Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - 7:44 pm ET

Amazing Race: Meet the 12 New Teams

By: Lynn | No Comments

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Instead of the usual 11 teams for Amazing Race, this season there are 12. That makes this the biggest season ever…however, one team gets eliminated before leaving the starting line! That’s harsh! And the eight countries the racers will visit will be navigated in only 21 days!! If we thought the teams were exhausted before the end of the race in earlier seasons, this time it will be even tougher.

“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.”

The 15th season of Amazing Race premieres with a special two-hour episode on Sunday, Sept. 27 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS, so mark your calendars.

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.”

[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.
[Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved]
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.