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The Accidental Columnist
The Amazing Race 8 - The Teams
By Dan Weltin
Published: August 17, 2005 Print this article
After a much needed break, The Amazing Race 8 is ready to show the TV audience why it's an Emmy-award winning show. And this season there's a special twist! It's Family Edition (groan).
This season 10 teams of four (instead of the usual 11 teams of two) will embark on a race around the world for the million-dollar prize. But according to a USA Today article, teams are only travelling 30,000 miles, a far cry from the standard 72,000. Because kids are involved, more historically significant locales were chosen and a majority of the race is within U.S. cites (that doesn't sound very amazing). The locations are also more family friendly and less crowded.
For some reason there will be fewer non-elimination legs this season as well. TAR 8 premieres on CBS on September 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and 8 p.m. Central.
Until then, let's take a look at the teams:
Gaghan Family:
Bill is 40-year-old dad with a lack of patience. Wife Tammy is 42 (ooh, older woman, kinky) lived in Korea for three years so the family has traveled a lot and both parents run in marathons (yeah, but your kids don't.) Speaking of the kids, Billy is 12 and athletic, but also in his pre-teen mood swings. Little Carissa is 9 and described as silly. (That's not going to help them win anything). Look for the teams with young children to be eliminated early. These guys don't stand a chance unless they have Barbie or Lego challenges.
Schroeder Family:
Mark is another 40-year-old dad and his two kids come from a previous marriage. Char is 39 and is described as the mediator of the family. It sounds like she has her work cut out for her because Stassi is 17 and the queen (read spoiled to all hell) of the family, while Hunter, 15, has been called lazy by his teammates.
Aiello Family:
Tony is 57 and travelling with his three sons-in-law. Kevin and Matt are both 31 and each married to one of Tony's twin daughters. David, 26, is a police officer and an ex-marine. With no wives on board and Mr. Military, expect these guys to kick some serious butt.
Rogers Family:
Patriarch of the family Denny is 46 and in the car business. Renee is 42 and a beauty pageant trainer. No wonder their daughter Britteny, 22, is a former Miss Louisiana (man, TAR really has a soft spot for beauty pageant winners. Can there not be a race without one?). Son Brock, 19, is said to have little patience.
Black Family:
Reggie, 42, is the team leader (though we all know from watching The Office that it's a meaningless title). Kimberly, 40, says she's witty (hopefully its dry). At eight years old, Austin is the youngest contestant ever on TAR, and he and his 11-year-old brother Kenneth are both into Tae Kwon Do. The family has little travelling experience, but a lot of heart. (Hey, heart counts for something. After all, it was Captain Planet's fifth power.)
Weaver Family:
Linda, 46, lost her husband in an accident at Daytona International Speedway (no he wasn't a driver). She's travelling with her three kids: Rebecca, 19, Rachel, 16, and Rolly (that's a lot of r's) who is 14 (and hopefully won't go crazy with travelling with three women). The team is dedicating their run to dear ol' dad.
Linz Family:
This team consists of three brothers: Nick, 24, Alex, 22, and Tommy, 19, who are travelling with their sister Megan, 21. With no parents it could be a blessing or a curse. Either the team will be great without having a nagging mom or dad around, or the four siblings may run wild due to lack of discipline. If they can hold it together, the Linz's will be tough to beat.
Bransen Family:
It's a man and his daughters. Their claim to fame is that they once appeared in a Pert shampoo commercial (whoopee). Dad Walter is 51 and belongs to the Abraham Lincoln Association and is a whiz on all things Honest Abe. With an emphasis on historical sites this season, this talent could come in handy. Elizabeth, 25, has a fear of heights and is stubborn like her father (two stubborn people spells trouble). Lauren, 22, is punctual (how does that help? Is she going to be on time for the finish line?). Lindsey, 20, complains that her sisters tell her what to do. Hopefully dad rules the roost and can keep his daughters in line.
Paolo Family:
This family is known for their bickering. Father Tony is 52 and originally from Italy. Mother Marion, also 52, says Tony lets his sons get away with too much. As for the sons, 16-year-old Brian is embarrassed by his family, and both he and his 24-year-old brother DJ think that their mother won't last very long. (Such confidence!). No wonder they don't get along.
Godlewski Family:
It's four sisters each with her own personality. They're like the Care Bears or something. Michelle, 42, is the competitive one. Sharon, 39, is the personable one. Christine, 37, is the obsessive one. And Tricia, 26, is the peacemaker. They all live within 30 minutes of each other and have traveled together. (Remember, that doesn't necessarily mean they get along though).
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