"THE AMAZING RACE" KICKED OFF ITS NEXT TRIP AROUND THE WORLD FROM VENICE, CALIF.

11 Teams Now En Route to Rio de Janeiro

The Emmy Award-Winning Show Premieres Friday, Sept. 25 on CBS

Eleven new teams began the journey of a lifetime this morning when THE AMAZING RACE kicked off its 27th trip around the world in Venice Beach, Calif. After completing their first challenge, the teams are now en route to their first destination, Rio de Janeiro. The new season of THE AMAZING RACE premieres Friday, Sept. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. Phil Keoghan (@PhilKeoghan) is the host. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

Following are the 11 teams competing on the upcoming season of THE AMAZING RACE:

· Ernest Phillips and Jin Lao, brothers from Boston

· Denise Williams and James Earl Corley, mother and son from Prattville, Ala.

· Cindy and Rick Chac, newlyweds from San Diego, Calif.

· Alex Manard and Adam Dingeman, cousins from Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa, respectively

· Justin Scheman and Diana Bishop, engaged couple from Philadelphia

· Jazmine Lewis and Danielle Littleton, athletes from Los Angeles

· Tanner Kloven and Josh Ahern, best friends from Dallas

· Kelly Berning and Shevonne Sullivan, TMZ editor and post production supervisor, respectively, from Los Angeles

· Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta, dating news anchors from Santa Barbara, Calif.

· Logan Fazio and Chris Gordon, dating paparazzi from Miami Beach, Fla.

· Tiffany Chantell Torres and Krista DeBono, friends from Hoboken, N.J., and Staten Island, N.Y., respectively

Amazing facts about the reigning Emmy-Award winner THE AMAZING RACE:

· Last season, THE AMAZING RACE notched its 10th Emmy Award win for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

· Nominated in the category every year since its inception in 2003

· 15 total Emmy wins, including other categories

· 65 total Emmy nominations

THE AMAZING RACE sends 11 teams on a trek around the world. Each Team is comprised of two people who have a pre-existing relationship with one another. At every destination, each Team competes in a series of challenges - some mental and some physical - and when the tasks have been completed, they learn their next destination. Teams who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning at least $1 million.

Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri and Mark Vertullo are the executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc. in association with ABC Studios and Amazing Race Productions. THE AMAZING RACE was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.

Website: www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/

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