CBS officially released the names of the teams participating in the upcoming season of Amazing Race. The news was spoiled when the race began in Times Square last May.
A few cast notes, to refresh your memory: Keith Tollefson and Whitney Duncan from Tennessee, were cast members of Survivor South Pacific. The two had an affair on the show that ended her marriage. Whitney divorced and now she and Keith are engaged. (Via RealityBlurred)
Also, Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost a limb in a shark attack, was immortalized in the movie Soul Surfer, which also featured American Idol alum, Carrie Underwood.
A new twist, called “The Save” will award the team-that finishes first in the premiere episode will be awarded a pass, which they can use to rescue themselves if they come in last on a leg and face elimination.
The Amazing Race is moving to FRIDAYS. We’ll see how that works out. It premieres September 26 at 8 pm.
Check out the press release and photos below
This Year’s Emmy Award Winner For Outstanding Reality-Competition Program Races To A New Day And Time, Fridays At 8:00 PM This Fall
Series Introduces New Game-Changing Element, “The Save”
CBS announced today the 11 teams racing around the globe for the opportunity to win the $1 million dollar prize, on the new season of THE AMAZING RACE. The show premieres on its new day and time, Friday, Sept. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Phil Keoghan (@philkeoghan) is the host.
This season of THE AMAZING RACE, which marks the 25th edition of the 10 time Emmy Award-winning series, will feature 11 new teams, including professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and her husband Adam Dirks, Boston firefighters Michael Ward and Scott Strazzullo and professional wrestlers Robbie E. Strauss and Brooke Adams.
The Race kicked off in May with the first ever public start from Times Square in New York City where Phil Keoghan introduced a new game-changing element, “The Save.” The team-that finishes first in the premiere episode will be awarded “The Save,” which they can use to rescue themselves if they come in last on a leg and face elimination.
Teams this season will be put to the test as they travel through eight countries and 20 cities, spanning more than 26,000 miles. For the first time in the show’s history, the Race will visit St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where teams will fly high in the sky; Valletta, Malta, where they’ll rappel 200 feet into a breathtaking Blue Grotto sea cave; and the Shetland Islands, Scotland, to test their sheep-herding skills.
Following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:
Name: Adam Dirks
Age: 26
Hometown: Princeville, Hawaii
Connection to teammate: Married
Name: Bethany Hamilton
Age: 24
Hometown: Princeville, Hawaii
Connection to teammate: Married
Follow on Twitter: @bethanyhamilton
Follow on YouTube: TheBethanyHamilton
Name: Maya Warren
Age: 29
Hometown: Madison, Wic.
Connection to teammate: Food scientist and friend/co-worker
Follow on Twitter: @MayaWarren
Name: Amy DeJong
Age: 24
Hometown: Madison, Wisc.
Connection to teammate: Food scientist and friend/co-worker
Follow on Twitter: @AmyEDeJong
Name: Dennis Hour
Age: 30
Hometown: Tustin, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @DennisHour
Name: Isabelle Du
Age: 28
Hometown: Tustin, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @isabelledu
Name: Brooke Adams
Age: 29
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @realbrookeadams
Name: Robbie E. Strauss
Age: 30
Hometown: Woodbridge, N.J.
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @robbieeimpact
Name: Whitney Duncan
Age: 29
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Connection to teammate: Engaged
Follow on twitter: @whitneyduncan
Name: Keith Tollefson
Age: 29
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Connection to teammate: Engaged
Follow on twitter: @keithtollefson
Name: Kym Perfetto
Age: 30
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Connection to teammate: Friends
Follow on twitter: @kymnonstop
Follow on YouTube: KymNonStop
Name: Alli Forsythe
Age: 26
Hometown: New York
Connection to teammate: Friends
Follow on Twitter: @alliforsythe
Name: Lisa Thomson
Age: 28
Hometown: Miami Beach, Fla.
Connection to teammate: Sisters
Follow on Twitter: @LisaAThomson
Name: Michelle Thomson
Age: 22
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Connection to teammate: Sisters
Follow on Twitter: @IsellMiami
Name: Michael Ward
Age: 40
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Connection to teammate: Friend and fellow firefighter
Name: Scott Strazzullo
Age: 39
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Connection to teammate: Friend and fellow firefighter
Name: Misti Raman
Age: 36
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Connection to teammate: Married
Name: Jim Raman
Age: 37
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Connection to teammate: Married
Name: Shelley Porter
Age: 42
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Connection to teammate: Mother
Name: Nici Porter
Age: 24
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Connection to teammate: Daughter
Follow on Twitter: @PrettyEyesRTB
Name: Timothy Tsao
Age: 23
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter:
Name: Te Jay McGrath
Age: 24
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating
