CBS today announced the 12 Teams set to compete in THE AMAZING RACE 15, which premieres with a special two-hour episode on Sunday, Sept. 27 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. 2009 Emmy Award nominee, Phil Keoghan, is the host.
Contestants will travel one of the fastest courses ever assembled on the Race – spanning eight countries in just 21 days. Season 15 also features the quickest elimination in the history of the series, sending one Team home before they leave the starting line. Teams fortunate enough to avoid the surprise elimination and compete for the $ 1 million prize will face the “Switchback,” which sends Teams back to the site of one of the series’ most infamous Roadblocks, as well as a surprise appearance by one of America’s most beloved entertainers, a visit to the world’s tallest building and a spicy twist on a Japanese game show
“This season we wanted to keep the Racers and our fans on their toes and make sure no one gets too comfortable,” stated Bertram van Munster, Executive Producer and Co-Creator of THE AMAZING RACE. “We’re adding some new surprise elements including our quickest elimination ever as well as revisiting one of the most challenging Roadblocks our Teams have ever encountered during our past 15 seasons.”
Season 15 features a diverse cast of Racers including a Team of Harlem Globetrotters, professional female poker players, the first-ever Racer with Asperger’s Syndrome, married yoga teachers and a former Miss America.
THE AMAZING RACE won its sixth straight Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program last year and is nominated for an unprecedented seventh consecutive award later this month.
Following are the 12 teams, listed in no particular order:
Name: Herbert “Flight Time” Lang
Hometown: Brinkley, Ark
Age: 32
Occupation: Harlem Globetrotter
Name: Nathaniel “The Big Easy” Lofton
Hometown: New Orleans
Age: 28
Occupation: Harlem Globetrotter
Relationship: Teammates
Their athletic talent brought these two friends together five years ago when they met at the Harlem Globetrotters training camp. Herbert, aka “Flight Time,” stands at 6’3″ and believes he can get along with anyone on the planet. Nathaniel goes by the name “The Big Easy” and towers over his competition at 6’9.”
Name: Lance Layne
Hometown: Salem, Mass.
Age: 41
Occupation: Lawyer
Name: Keri Morrione
Hometown: Peabody, Mass.
Age: 33
Occupation: Finance Manager
Relationship: Engaged
Lance and Keri have known each other for over two years. Lance proposed six months ago and they are planning to be married this fall. Lance, a black belt in Karate, has an uber-aggressive personality and does not shy away from confrontation. Keri admits to getting frustrated when he interrupts her and fails to listen to her input, but Lance insists that he is always right and does not need to listen.
Name: Maria Ho
Hometown: Arcadia, Calif.
Age: 26
Occupation: Professional Poker Player
Name: Tiffany Michelle
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Age: 25
Occupation: Professional Poker Player
Relationship: Professional Poker Players
These two professional poker players have been friends for over five years and have been going head-to-head at the tables the entire time. From Vegas to Monte Carlo, both have been the last females standing in a male-dominated sport on more than one occasion. Well traveled, extremely competitive and strong-minded, these savvy players can deal with the cards they are dealt and will not be afraid to battle to the end.
Name: Eric Paskel
Hometown: Encino, Calif. via Michigan
Age: 41
Occupation: Yoga Studio Owner and Instructor
Name: Lisa Paskel
Hometown: Encino, Calif. via Michigan
Age: 43
Occupation: Yoga Studio Owner and Instructor
Relationship: Married Yoga Teachers
Eric and Lisa have been married for over 18 years. Both are vegans, who have a passionate and fiery approach to their personal and professional lives, and are extremely dedicated to helping others.
Name: Gary Tomljenovich
Hometown: Laurel, Mont.
Age: 47
Occupation: Construction Manager and Mortgage Banker
Name: Matt Tomljenovich
Hometown: Bozeman, Mont.
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Relationship: Father/Son
Gary is a PC and Matt is a Mac. Gary enjoys hunting and Matt enjoys video games. Gary enjoys classic rock and Matt enjoys metal. This father and son duo do not have a lot in common and they never have … that is why they are running the RACE. They are eager to share the experience of a lifetime with one another and establish a bond for the rest of their lives.
Name: Zev Glassenberg
Hometown: Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Age: 26
Occupation: Unemployed
Name: Justin Kanew
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 30
Occupation: VP of Development for National Lampoon
Relationship: Friends
Zev and Justin’s friendship started six years ago when they were working as camp counselors and the two have been very close ever since. Zev has Asperger’s Syndrome, but they do not let it affect their relationship. They share friends and interests, and the friendship is as mutually beneficial as any friendship could be.
Name: Garrett Paul
Hometown: Aptos, Calif.
Age: 28
Occupation: Day Trader
Name: Jessica Stout
Hometown: Larkspur, Calif.
Age: 27
Occupation: Freelance Editor
Relationship: Dating On and Off
One word to describe this Team is passionate. Garrett and Jessica met while in Barcelona on a study exchange program and have been dating on and off for seven years – during which time they have had three major breakups. Jessica is used to addressing issues head-on, while Garrett opts to ignore her, shying away from confrontation.
Name: Marcy Maloy
Hometown: San Francisco
Age: 60
Occupation: Advertising Photographer
Name: Ronald Shalita
Hometown: San Francisco
Age: 59
Occupation: Stock Trader and Math Tutor
Relationship: Dating
Marcy and Ron both believe that at 60 you can be strong, sexy, vibrant and energetic. After meeting on an online dating website, they are looking forward to sharing the intense experience that the RACE can provide and hope this helps determine whether their relationship is destined to last. Both are exceptionally fit, have great people skills and high energy
Name: Mika Combs
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Age: 22
Occupation: Aspiring Singer
Name: Canaan Smith
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Age: 26
Occupation: Professional Songwriter
Relationship: Newly Dating
These southern sweethearts will charm you with their fresh faces and wide eyed enthusiasm for life. They have only been dating for a few months, but admit to spending every waking hour together since they fell in love. Mika grew up in Hazard, Ky. and moved to Nashville, Tenn. two years ago to pursue a career in country music. Canaan is a professional songwriter.
Name: Daniel McMillen
Hometown: Liberty, Mo.
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Name: Samuel McMillen
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Age: 23
Occupation: Student
Relationship: Brothers
Brothers for 21 years, Sam and Dan will tell you that their relationship did not truly start until last summer when they both came out and told each other that they were gay. While growing up, neither one of them felt comfortable coming out, but after doing so, they have discovered a new bond with one another and have become much closer.
Name: Meghan Rickey
Hometown: San Diego
Age: 23
Occupation: Account Executive
Name: Cheyne Whitney
Hometown: San Diego
Age: 23
Occupation: Student
Relationship: Dating
Meghan and Cheyne met on a grade-school tetherball court. Ten years later, they became a couple and have been going strong ever since. Other than a six-month period, where Meghan studied abroad in Italy, this couple is nearly inseparable.
Name: Ericka Dunlap
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Age: 27
Occupation: Entertainer/ Miss America 2004
Name: Brian Kleinschmidt
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Age: 27
Occupation: Marketing Tour Manager
Relationship: Married
After meeting Ericka in college nine years ago, and asking her out every week until she said yes, Brian’s persistence finally paid off. Ericka did decide to give him a chance and now the two have been married for over two years. Ericka’s greatest accomplishment other then meeting and marrying Brian, was winning the Miss America crown in 2004.
THE AMAZING RACE 15 will send 12 teams – each comprised of two people who have a pre-existing relationship with one another – on a trek around the world for 21 days. At every destination, each couple will have to compete in a series of challenges – some mental and some physical – and only when the tasks have been completed will they learn their next destination. Couples who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning $1 million.
