The Amazing Race has suffered a slow ratings decline for a few seasons. At one point, the once mighty CBS reality show was moved from a prime Sunday slot to Friday nights. Gimmicks like casting social media stars and blind date teams didn’t bring back the spark. The show skipped the 2016 fall cycle and is returning to the schedule with a brand new twist. CBS cast 22 people who will be paired up on the starting line.
We’ll see how that works out!
The Amazing Race 29 premieres on Thursday March 30. Originally it was set to start on a Friday in April. But the show is taking the place of the poorly rated freshman drama, Training Day, which is being shunted off to Saturdays.
Check out details on the upcoming season below.
The Amazing Race returns this season with a race unlike any before. In a brand new twist, all 22 Racers are complete strangers who will meet on the starting line. Before “GO,” Racers will immediately compete in a challenge that will determine the order for picking a Teammate, based on nothing but first impressions. These new pairs of Teammates will then have mere moments to learn their traveling companion’s name before beginning a race around the world that will span 9 countries, 17 cities and 36,000 miles. The new season of the 10-time Emmy Award-winning series premieres on a new date and time, Thursday, March 30 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
https://youtu.be/T8VpR5sPVAw
“For years, The Amazing Race fans have suggested we line up complete strangers and match them up at the starting line to see what would happen. These newbie racers begin with no pre-existing relationships or emotional baggage, and the excitement of traveling around the world to complete dozens of gut-busting, mind-blowing challenges quickly ignites tension,” said Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race.
“The Amazing Race, in scope, is the biggest reality show ever created. It brings people from all walks of life together on a global scale, and traditionally sends teams with established relationships on an adrenaline-packed, exotic adventure. However, this season, we are excited to pair complete strangers and see how they handle the pressure of traveling the world with someone they just met,” said co-creator and executive producer Bertram van Munster.
Participants in the 29th Race around the world include an Army Drill Sergeant, a pro snowboarder, a Wall Street banker, an auctioneer and a college drum major, among others. They will begin their journey in Los Angeles and head to their first destination, Panama City. Along the route, Racers will be challenged with building and delivering desks and school supplies to children in Tanzania, skydiving in Norway and bungee jumping 240 feet into the Corinth Canal in Greece. The first team to cross the final finish line will win the one million dollar prize and be crowned the winners of The Amazing Race.
Following are the 22 Racers, listed in no particular order:
Shamir Arzeno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEJy8_QTGa0
Age: 28
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Current occupation: Associate at Top Banking Firm
Logan Bauer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcdOvXiZjHA
Age: 27
Hometown: Navarre, Fla.
Current occupation: Orthopedic Device Representative
Olive Beauregard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgjzig1E1DA
Age: 24
Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island
Current occupation: Firefighter
Brooke Camhi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1GmObuDquU
Age: 36
Hometown: Lynbrook, N.Y.
Current occupation: Director of Business Development at U.S. Legal Support and Attorney at Camhi & Min.
Tara Carr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmXHmCkCBjM
Age: 38
Hometown: Where the Army sends me! Originally from New Milford, Conn., but currently reside in Alexandria, Va., although I am presently in Afghanistan.
Current occupation: U.S. Army Officer
Joey Covino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J0XR6Q5VOQ
Age: 46
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Current occupation: Police Sergeant
Becca Droz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNLbxP0Y8kY
Age: 26
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Penn.
Current occupation: Rock Climbing Instructor and Barista.
Liz Espey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG7_9m5JkM8
Age: 24
Hometown: Maryville, Mo.
Current occupation: Auctioneer
Scott Flanary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke59eCx1ew8
Age: 34
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Current occupation: University Recruiting Manager
Sara Fowler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-eUsHl0ZmM
Age: 27
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Current occupation: Luxury Real Estate Agent
London Kaye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfsf_hd1uiA
Age: 27
Hometown: New York
Current occupation: Street Artist
Matt Ladley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJTMs707zAE
Age: 25
Hometown: Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Current occupation: Professional Snowboarder
Jenn Lee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKyfb5RtDqg
Age: 25
Hometown: Palos Verdes, Calif.
Current occupation: Professional Model
Kevin Ng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–M4G5Dpg2Q
Age: 31
Hometown: San Diego
Current occupation: Physio/Certified Athletic Trainer/O-PAC at the USA Rugby Olympic Training Center.
Francesca Piccoli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqjhdZ3bOpQ
Age: 33
Hometown: Banning, Calif.
Current occupation: U.S. Army
Floyd Pierce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDtJw0xzGBk
Age: 21
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Current occupation: College Student
Michael Rado
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9CJlS6-txQ
Age: 37
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Penn.
Current occupation: Butcher
Redmond Ramos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JtlgOarj-k
Age: 28
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
Current occupation: Motivational Speaker
Jessica “Jessie” Lynn Shields
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQMczAjK_wI
Age: 28
Hometown: Howland, Ohio
Current Occupation: K-9 Police Officer at Youngstown Police Department in Youngstown, Ohio.
Ashton Theiss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8a-wV5zD6I
Age: 25
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Current occupation: Real Estate Agent
Seth Tyler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK2XYP6yxtE
Age: 37
Hometown: Seattle, Wash.
Current occupation: Police Officer
Vanck Zhu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W161nXHi7JQ
Age: 28
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Current occupation: Investment Research
