Exclusive: 'The Amazing Race's Tanner Kloven and Josh Ahern talk (Part 2)

The Amazing Race's "Best Friends and Texans" Tanner Kloven and Josh Ahern were eliminated during Friday night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition's 27th season.


Tanner and Josh became the sixth team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's ninth Pit Stop on the grounds of Moonlight Garden in Agra, India near the Taj Mahal in last place.

Tanner and Josh got slowed down drastically by a time-consuming Speed Bump as well as a U-Turn that unfortunately forced them to complete both sides of the Detour task.

In an exclusive interview with Reality TV World on Monday, Tanner and Josh talked about their experience on the show. Below is the concluding portion. Click here to read the first half. 

Reality TV World: You two got extremely close to Tiffany Chantell and Krista Debono during this Race, and you guys even admitted you have a weakness for pom-poms and mini skirts. So I think fans are dying to know, was there a romantic connection there at all between you guys and did you consider dating them at all after the show?


Tanner Kloven: No, I think it was because -- why we became so close -- we were just as close to "Team Alabama." But with the "Cheerleaders," you know, they were two [singles]. They weren't a couple so they were just like us. They didn't have someone with them to rely on at all times -- their partner or whatever.

They were the same age as us. It was just a lot of things that factored into our friendship, and I think it was an easy friendship to have. We had a lot in common and it was just easy. We never had to try for anything.

They just became our good friends and we're still very close to them. But no, no kind of romantic type of chemistry or anything. We never tried to pursue anything. We're all just good friends. So whatever the show tries to make of it, we're just friends.

Josh Ahern: What people just don't understand is that the Race, personally, I think would be an awful place to have sparks fly. You're stressed, you look awful, you're sweating the entire time, you smell.

And, you know, when the cameras are off, we're not allowed to interact with the other teams. So, it's not like we had down time to really get to know each other. There were even some times when we tried to team up with them but then you're stressed and you're in these crazy situations.


I remember one time, Krista was trying to convince us to, like, follow them or do something they wanted to do. And I was trying to get some information from someone, so I turned around and I just go, "Krista! Just do your own thing! Do your own thing!" And so, it's just, I don't know. It would be a really hard environment.

I don't know how people did the Blind Date [season] because if I had to travel around the world and compete like that with a stranger, I mean, it's hard enough with your best friend. So I can't imagine trying to impress someone I never met before. (Laughs)

Tanner Kloven: Krista's whole "New York side" came out too. She had a little attitude right there.

Reality TV World: How long did both sides of the Detour take you to complete? And which one was easier?

Josh Ahern: Oh gosh.


Tanner Kloven: So, it was funny because we actually asked to go to "Cans," and he took us to "Candy." And so the fact that we got to "Candy," we actually liked "Candy" better. We know that everyone who had been there was there at least 45 minutes before us, and we still almost beat both of the teams. I mean, they both left 10 -- maybe 15 -- minutes before us.

And so, we had time to catch them and that was after our huge Speed Bump. So "Cans," I would have liked to have done "Cans" when our back was against the wall and we were really in a hurry, because we did "Cans" like it was nothing.

But also, we didn't have the adversity. We knew we were out. But I do think "Candy" was a little easier for us just because we were able to power through it. But, you know, for "Team Alabama" and for the girls, and I'm sure for the other teams, they were the only two teams that were there when we were there.

It was hard for them and they were struggling with it, and it was hard to cut and carry that bucket around. That bucket was very heavy. So for us, it was kind of a breeze, but I wouldn't say it was easy at all. But I would've picked "Candy" if I had to do it again.

Reality TV World: You mentioned earlier you got lost on your way to the Pit Stop?


Josh Ahern: Our driver was just awful. I mean, we got lost and turned around so many different times, whether it was going to "Candy" or then after we were leaving to go to the U-Turn board, and then when we were trying to go to the "Cans."

And then what they don't show is when we were trying to find the "Cans" Detour, it probably took us what, Tanner? 45 minutes just to find where it was at once he dropped us off. In India, it's just chaos.

There's people everywhere, and I mean, we were asking people where the Detour was or where this little shop was. No one had any idea, so, I think if you had to combine both Detours time-wise, it probably took two hours at least if not more -- if you combine both. So probably two hours and 20 minutes or something like that.

Reality TV World: How did your experience on the show differ from your expectations going into it? And taking that into account, how would you better prepare if you were to race again?

Tanner Kloven: I think if we were to race again, we would've definitely prepared more by watching more episodes religiously -- knowing the ins and outs of everything.


There were times that -- and I always refer back to Justin Scheman and Diana Bishop because they killed the Race -- they got off the plane and ran to the exit and were out, and every other single team was looking up at signs trying to figure out [where to go].

It's like they went to someone's phone and looked up the layout of the airport and ran straight out. I mean, it's like nothing I've ever seen.

Josh Ahern: I agree. I'm pretty sure that they did do that, Tanner. I thought that I had heard them say that, that they had either looked at airport layouts or got on someone's phone in an airport BEFORE they left and got to the next airport.

They'd look to see how to navigate it. I'm pretty sure. I mean, you can't quote me on that, because I don't know exactly, but I want to say that I thought Justin admitted to doing that.

Tanner Kloven: That's one of the things we'd change if we go back in time. I mean, with the Race, you don't really know what to expect. You can't expect anything in this thing. And going through the first leg and winning it, it was just -- we were in awe with that. We were learning as we went.

Shape-wise, physicality-wise, I think we were fine. I think it was more so just knowing when to play the U-Turn -- even though we didn't -- but if we had had the opportunity, we might've played it wrong.


I think there's a lot of stuff we can learn after running it. There's a lot of things we could've touched up on. But, you know, I think it's a lot luck. Like I said, 75% of it is luck of the draw and you just hope it works out for you.

Reality TV World: So because of that, do you think the Race is still anybody's game, or is it just like, "Hand Justin and Diana the money now!"

Josh Ahern: It's anyone's game. I mean, look at us in Poland. Yes, Justin and Diana were much farther ahead because they got a much earlier flight, but I was the second one to jump into the pool to get the clue. So in that time, we were in second place, right? Well, an hour goes by and we're in last place just because of luck.

We could not find a taxi, so, luck is the ultimate equalizer in the Race. I don't care how much you know or how much you studied. One thing can happen and then you're out of it. So, yeah, it's definitely anyone's game.

Reality TV World: How were you cast on The Amazing Race and was it your first time applying for the show?

Tanner Kloven: So, we were actually approached on Facebook, and the second we heard about it, we had watched the Race and we knew the Race and it's a very prestigious show. We didn't want to do any dating shows or anything like that, so we jumped all over it the first time we heard about it.


And after watching a couple of episodes and really coming to the realization, "This is real and could actually happen," we fell in love with the opportunity. We felt blessed to have it work out for us.

Click here to read the first half of Tanner and Josh's exclusive The Amazing Race interview with Reality TV World.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski