CBS has revealed the identities of the twelve teams -- the most teams in six editions -- that will compete on The Amazing Race 10, the tenth The Amazing Race edition that will air as part of the network's new Fall 2006 Sunday night lineup.
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According to The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan, the tenth season's cast -- which includes the show's first Muslim team, the show's first Indian-American team, a gay couple, a pair of reigning Miss USA contestants, and an amputee who competes in Iron Man Triathlons -- is the long-running reality show's most diverse group ever. "The range in this cast is remarkable," Keoghan told reporters during the show's Television Critics Association press tour session. "We've never had such a broad spectrum of people." "This cast is as different as it's ever been," The Amazing Race executive producer Bertram van Munster added.
The Amazing Race 10 (which finished filming late last month) is also expected to outdo previous Race editions in another area -- drama. "It's meltdown city on this whole trip," said van Munster.
Rather than "easing" the teams into the competition with a trip to Europe or South America, this season's contestants were sent straight from Seattle to China. "This race started harder," executive producer Jonathan Littman told reporters. "We sent them head first into the toughest possible areas. It really threw them for a loop."
According to van Munster, in addition to the numerous language barriers, dealing with several locations' extreme temperatures (including Kuwait's 129 degree heat) and traveling in restrictive communist nations took a toll on the cast. In Vietnam, government officials insisted on reviewing all the footage the producers shot but did not request any edits or cuts. "The show worldwide is extremely popular and that has helped us," said van Munster.
The twelve teams competing on The Amazing Race 10 -- and their CBS-supplied profiles -- are:
Vipul Patel and Arti Patel, a married couple from Windermere, FL. Vipul is a 29-year-old who works in sales. Arti is a 26-year-old nutritional educator. Vipul and Arti are the first Indian-American team to run the Race. Both speak several languages and are well-traveled. Vipul admits to being a bit overzealous, while Arti takes great pride in her ability to reign in his emotions and focus his strengths -- a skill she will undoubtedly be forced to call upon while racing around the world. |
Erwin Cho and Godwin Cho, a pair of brothers from San Francisco, CA. Erwin is a 32-year-old insurance company manager. Godwin is a 29-year-old financial analyst. These overachieving, super-competitive brothers say they are ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Godwin has grown up in the shadow of his Harvard-educated brother and is eager to show his brother and his family that he has what it takes to win The Amazing Race. This team's love for traveling the world and competing is infectious. |
Tom Rock and Terry Cosentino, a gay dating couple from New York, NY. Tom is a 39-year-old college admissions director. Terry is a 45-year-old special events director. This feisty, fun-loving couple has been together for over two years. Their playful nitpicking is constant, but it always ends in shared laughter. This energetic couple is hoping the Race will prove to them they have what it takes to stay together. |
Kellie Patterson and Jamie Hill, a pair of best friends from Columbia, SC. Kellie is a 22-year-old student majoring in broadcast journalism. Jamie is a 22-year-old recent college graduate. Don't let their Southern drawls fool you. These former co-captains of the University of South Carolina cheerleading squad are highly competitive and just might have what it takes to be the first female team to win The Amazing Race. |
Lyn Turk and Karlyn Harris, a pair of Alabama mothers who are best friends. Lyn is a 32-year-old fourth grade teacher from Birmingham, AL. Karlyn is a 32-year-old program analyst from Helena, AL. These two Alabama mothers have known each other since 9th grade. The Amazing Race will be the first time the two have ever traveled abroad together. Both have limited traveling experience, but are hoping their resourcefulness and wit will make them the team to beat. |
David Conley and Mary Conley, a married couple from Stone, KY. David is a 32-year-old coal miner. Mary is a 31-year-old homemaker. David and Mary are married parents who met while working at McDonald's 10 years ago. David was in the Army and did some traveling while Mary can count on one hand how many times she's been on a plane. This hard-working couple is eager to expand their horizons and see the world. |
Bilal Abdul-Mani and Sa'eed Rudolph, a pair of best friends from Cleveland, OH. Bilal is a 37-year-old medical supply technician. Sa'eed is a 39-year-old power lineman. These best friends have spent years bonding over their love of food, Browns football and their shared Islamic faith. Bilal is energetic and outgoing while Sa'eed is quiet and passive. Their vastly different temperaments will be fun to watch as they attempt to navigate over 40,000 miles in under 30 days. |
Peter Harsch and Sarah Reinertsen, a pair of friends who live in southern California. Peter is a 35-year-old clinical prosthetist from Laguna Beach, CA. Sarah is a 31-year-old motivational speaker from Trabuco Canyon, CA. Peter and Sarah are both Iron Man competitors who have a long history of teamwork. Sarah recently became the first female with an artificial leg to complete the Hawaii Iron Man Triathlon. Peter works as a clinical prosthetist and travels the country speaking to amputees and consulting for prosthetic legs. Both are out to win and eager to show the world that a disability will not stop them from reaching their goals. |
Rob Diaz and Kimberly Chabolla, a dating couple from Los Angeles, CA. Rob is a 31-year-old bartender and real estate student. Kimberly is a 28-year-old who works in public relations. Rob and Kimberly met while bartending and have been dating for the last two years. Their relationship has experienced some rocky moments, yet they recently decided to take a leap and move in together. They are both looking to the Race to test the strength of their relationship and prove to them that they were meant to be together. |
Tyler Denk and James Branaman, a pair of best friends from Los Angeles, CA. Tyler is a 29-year-old model. James is a 27-year-old model. Tyler and James are not your typical "pretty boys"; they've both had their share of hard knocks. After losing track of each other several years ago, they reconnected after going through rehab and have been best friends ever since. They're hoping their new found lease on life will help carry them around the globe and across the finish line. |
Dustin Konzelman and Kandice Pelletier, a pair of reigning Miss USA contestants. Dustin is a 24-year-old marketing director who lives in Riverside, CA and is the reigning Miss California USA. Kandice is a 24-year-old Radio City Music Hall Rockette who lives in New York, NY and is the reigning Miss New York USA. Dustin and Kandice met while rooming together at the Miss USA pageant. Rivals at first, they quickly became friends and have been inseparable ever since. Kandice is wild and impulsive, while Dustin is religious and more conservative. Their shared trait is they are both intense competitors who thrive on winning. |
Duke Marcoccio and Lauren Marcoccio, a father/daughter team from Warwick, RI. Duke is a 52-year-old tour company owner. Lauren is a 26-year-old speech and language pathologist. When Lauren told her family that she was gay, her father didn't react well to the news and the two were estranged for several years. They are currently rebuilding their relationship and hope the Race will help them recapture the closeness they once shared. |
All team photos courtesy Robert Voets/CBS
