As a result of racism that Johnson and his parents experienced, their programs and products have intentionally sought to feature an inclusive cast.

Johnson was born in the United States,[2] and grew up in North York, Ontario, the child of Black and Irish parents.

Network executives rescinded that offer the same day it was made, stating that they didn't want a second Black reporter.

[4] As an extra in an advertisement for Woodbine Racetrack, during the 1980s, Johnson was moved so that he wouldn't be sitting next to a white woman.

The video received wide attention in Canada, and led to Johnson speaking on the subject on many media outlets.

[2] He acted in various television series between 1988 and 1990, including day player roles in T. and T., Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and E.N.G.

Johnson is famous for his thick moustache, which he shaved at some point before his 2013 audition for The Amazing Race Canada.

[7] McLeod is of German and Italian heritage,[3] and grew up in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario with her adoptive family.

[1] McLeod's high school physical education teacher, who had competed at the 1968 Olympic Games, encouraged her to join a track club.

[1] One was open to airing the program, but only if Joanne McLeod was joined by a white man;[6] at least one report lists that broadcaster as TSN.

[6] In 1995, Life Network commissioned a 13 half-hour episode series based on the popular segments, which it aired in primetime.

The duo spent months preparing for the competition, including studying prime ministers and Air Canada routes, as well as practising driving stick shift Chevrolet (one of the show's sponsor) cars at the dealership.

[17] In the months following The Amazing Race, they were the grand marshals of the 2013 Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Parade,[8] and guest "anchors" on news comedy program This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

[13] They self-parodied in a promotion for Netflix zombie series Santa Clarita Diet; BuzzFeed deemed them "the cutest cannibals.