Fans of The Amazing Race are excited about the early return of the Emmy Award-winning show. Originally scheduled to air in the winter season, we're going to begin the whirlwind race around the world starting Sunday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas.
CBS announced the teams today and it looks like we have a fine season ahead of us. Here are the teams in no particular order:
Fasther/Daughter: Ronald Hsu, VP of sales, age 58, Tacoma, Washington and his daughter Christina Hsu. She's 26, a policy analyst living in Washington, D.C. Key CBS descriptor -- workaholic dad needs to stop and smell the roses.
Dating Goths (now, there's something different): Kynt Cothren, age 31 of Louisville, Kentucky. He's a waiter and hair salon receptionist. The other half is Vyxsin Fiala (female), age 29, also of Louisville and also a waiter and hair salon receptionist. Key CBS descriptor -- us against the world.
Dating (but not Goth): Lorena Segura, age 27, a bartender from Sherman Oaks, California. Her partner is Jason Widener, age 33, wedding videographer and actor also from Sherman Oaks. Key CBS descriptor -- do we belong together?
Brother/Sister: Azaria Azene, age 27, a facilities engineer from New Orleans, Lousiana. His sister is Hendekea Azene, age 23, an aerospace engineer from Torrance, California. Key CBS descriptor -- personality differences.
Married Ministers (but there's a twist!): Kate Lewis, age 49, Episcopal Clergy and Pat Hendrikson, an ordained deacon, age 65. The twist to it? They're lesbians, both from Thousand Oaks, California. Key CBS descriptor -- they can play dirty, too.
Friends: Shana Wall, age 32, an actress from Los Angeles, California. Jennifer McCall, age 32, a legal assistant, also from L.A. Key CBS descriptor -- competitive.
Grandfather/Grandson: Donald Jerousak, retired, age 68, from Elkhorn, Wisconsin. His grandson is Nicholas Fulks, a 23 year-old pilot originally from Chicago, Illinois. Key CBS descriptor -- grandfather rough around the edges.
Dating (but again, not Goth): Jennifer Parker, age 23, a student from Huntington Beach, California. Her partner is Nathan Hagstrom, age 24, a volleyball coach from Fountain Valley, California. Key CBS descriptor -- athletic.
Newly Dating: Rachel Rosales, age 23, a florist and store owner from Huntington Beach, California (hmm ... second one from there so far). Racing with her is TK Erwin, age 22, a substitute teacher also from Huntington Beach (three). Key CBS descriptor -- eccentric.
Sisters: Marianna Ruiz, age 25, an art gallery manager originally from Miami, but living in Los Angeles. Her sister is Julia Ruiz, age 26, an office production assistant from Miami, but also in L.A. Key CBS descriptor -- feisty.
Best Friends: Ari Bonias, age 21, a waiter from Long Beach, California. His partner for the race is Staella Gianakakos, age 23, a restaurant manager from Fountain Valley, California. Key CBS descriptor -- fun-loving.
So, there you go. I think the list seems a bit California-heavy, but many people who live there aren't really from there, so that's fine. I do wonder about all the people from a few different towns, though. At least we don't have a "previously was on another reality show" team this season and these are all new fresh faces for us!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-24-2007 @ 8:31PM
MCW said...
I had to hit the jump to see how many would be gay this time. Listen, it's not being homophobe to say that you can't stand how homosexual people talk. Every season, I can't watch because they put a gay guy on there who sounds like a little girl the entire time. I can't stand it. Of course he always makes it till the end of the game.
So, I think the one guy crouched up front, (Blue shorts) is probably gay. Anyone agree?
And wait, where's Mirna and Smirna?
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10-24-2007 @ 9:30PM
lucyfan62 said...
Hey MCW, here's the description for "guy in blue shorts" from cbs.com:
Ari is catty and not afraid to speak his mind...Ari describes himself as mean, rude and hilarious and enjoys dancing and talking trash to people.
Yeah, he's gay
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 9:54PM
MCW said...
lucyfan62, thanks so much for the kind reply :) I was expecting to get bashed pretty quickly, but you surprised me.
And thanks for finding that on CBS. I didn't know which one was Ari.
It's not too much to ask to not have to hear a gay man talk for an entire season - is it? Sigh... Guess this'll be yet another season of Amazing Race I can't watch. Sad part is, I really want too. Phil Keogan, can't you do something to stop this nonsense?
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10-24-2007 @ 10:52PM
KHook said...
"Listen, it's not being homophobe to say that you can't stand how homosexual people talk."
Wow. That is incredibly homophobic. First, it's completely wrong to group all gay people together as talking the same way. It's true that on most reality shows, they do cast the feminine girly stereotypes and they do it on purpose. It looks like TAR is doing it again. But it seems that you're talking about gay people in general, not just the ones seen on reality shows. You're acting as if all gay people are the same. So I suppose all straight people are the same as well? That's dead wrong.
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10-25-2007 @ 12:59AM
Bach said...
Holy $hit! I used to know two of those people.
Nathan Hagstrom and Staella Gianakakos. Same high school, same year, yet different teams. Weird.
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10-25-2007 @ 3:07AM
Dave said...
Yeah, what's up with all the contestants from LA? 15 of 22 are currently living in or around Los Angeles. And Bach, two contestants on different teams went to the same high school? That really bugs me - surely they didn't do that on accident. Is this TAR or Big Brother?
$20 says they end the race in LA too...sigh.
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10-25-2007 @ 2:01PM
Vivek said...
hook,
the author of the first post WAS talking about reality shows. maybe you want to read the post again b4 ranting.
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11-01-2007 @ 12:11AM
MrBob said...
Why are all the contestants from Souther California? A lot of the contestants resides in neighboring cities, if not the same city?
Long Beach, CA
Fountain Valley, CA
Huntington Beach, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Torrance, CA
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11-02-2007 @ 3:48PM
Sandy said...
Call me Caliphobic, but I think it really takes away from the best qualities of the show when most contestants are trendy, "with it" singles from California. I think diversity, including geographic diversity is a good thing.
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11-03-2007 @ 7:55PM
Angela said...
Vivek,
I do not beilive that MCW WAS talking about gay people in relation to ONLY reality shows.
And I quote: "Listen, it's not being homophobe to say that you can't stand how homosexual people talk." It would be like me saying..."It's not being racist to say that you can't stand how black people have big lips" or "It's not being ageist to say that you can't stand how old people have wrinkles".
An example of just talking about homosexual people in relation to reality shows would be: " Listen, it's not being homophobe to say that you can't stand how the homosexual people on every reality show I have watched talk"..and even this statement, in my opinion, is homophobic.
I know that later MCW talks about reality shows...BUT the one statement made above is incredibly homophobic and secondly I do not believe that you, Vivek, can tell someone that they are not allowed to be offended by a statement.
I agree with KHook...I was personally offended...so thats two people who were offended.
MCW...if you were trying to be homophobic, it worked...if not...you should be more aware of what you are writing so that you do not offend people.
ANYWAY...so excitied that the AR starts again soon.
I too am disappointed that so many are from CA.
- Angela (old, black, lesbian!)
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11-04-2007 @ 1:18AM
Lola said...
Actually 3....YES 3 of the contestants went to high school together. Nathan, Staella and Rachel the flower shop owner. I went to high school with them and I can't understand why they would want 3 people from the same high school together. They all pretty much hung out with the same people so they will definately know each other! Weird!! And I agree the lack of representation from other states is strange....almost everyone is from Southern California!
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