Inside Hacks' Amazing Race Crossover Episode w/ Director Jeff Rosenberg
From We Know The Amazing Race by Reality TV RHAPups
May 2, 2026 · 59 min
About this episode
Rob Cesternino interviews Jeff Rosenberg about the crossover episode of Hacks inspired by The Amazing Race.
Inside Hacks' Amazing Race Crossover Episode w/ Director Jeff Rosenberg Reality TV meets prestige comedy as Rob Cesternino sits down with Jeff Rosenberg, producer and director on Hacks, to break down the making of the show's Amazing Race-themed season 5 episode. Rosenberg—himself a dedicated reality TV superfan—shares how the creative team brought the energy and authenticity of The Amazing Race into the world of scripted TV, blending hilarious challenges, familiar production quirks, and genuine fan appreciation. Rob and Jeff dive into how Hacks' creators became hooked on The Amazing Race, why the memorable cheese wheel challenge made the cut, and how working with the actual Amazing Race crew—including host Phil Keoghan—helped capture the right spirit. The conversation also peels back the curtain on how the episode built both emotional stakes and comedic beats, using reality tropes to deepen the relationship between Deborah and her daughter DJ. Highlights from their discussion include: The story behind selecting iconic Amazing Race challenges like the cheese wheel and goat milking, plus the logistical hurdles of recreating them for scripted TV. Cameos from the Property Brothers…
People in this episode
Host: Rob Cesternino
Guest: Jeff Rosenberg
Topics covered
- Amazing Race
- Hacks
- reality TV
- comedy
- scripted TV
- celebrity cameos
Keywords
- Amazing Race
- Hacks
- Jeff Rosenberg
- Rob Cesternino
- reality TV
- comedy
- celebrity cameos
- challenges
- scripted TV
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hacks, The Amazing Race, Property Brothers, NBA
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