Bridgewater Couple Still Racing After 'The Amazing Race' Shuts Down Due To COVID

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater residents Akbar and Sheridan Cook are still in the game even after CBS' TV show "The Amazing Race" had to shut down mid-filming in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

The third episode aired on Wednesday night with the third leg of the race beginning in Glasglow, Scotland.

The couple, who live in the Martinsville section of the township, ran into some issues during the leg when trying to drive stick shift in a foreign country.

Luckily for them, the Cooks made it safely to the Pit Stop.

The Cooks are among 11 teams of two to be competing on the 33rd season of the reality television show where they will race around the world for a $1 million grand prize.

Akbar Cook is a Principal at Newark West Side High School and Sheridan is a Teacher at Newark Public Schools.

Before the episode ends, the show's host Phil Keoghan calls all the teams back.

"The Amazing Race has traveled over 1 million miles around the world and visited almost 100 countries and from day one our job is to make sure all of you are safe," said Keoghan on the show.

The episode that was filmed on Feb. 28, 2020 had to make a drastic decision.

"Right now the world is dealing with the coronavirus and we believe in order to keep you safe, the best choice for all of us is to suspend the race," said Keoghan.

It isn't until 19 months later that the show resumes filming in Switzerland. The Cooks are among the few couples to return.

If you missed the episodes, you can catch it on the Paramont+ app. The fourth episode will air on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

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