Topic: TAR 27: Denise Williams & James Earl Corley (Mother/Son)

[georgiapeach]

 
 

#TeamAlabama



Name: Denise Williams
Age: 51
Hometown: Prattville, Ala.
Connection to your teammate: Mother
Current occupation: Administrative Assistant
Describe what you do: I help law enforcement agencies in the great state of Alabama get military surplus property.
3 words to describe you: Energetic, athletic and flirtatious.
Favorite hobbies: Working out, watching Auburn football and watching movies.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Raising the most wonderful son and getting a black belt in Taekwondo.
What famous person reminds you of yourself? Julia Roberts.
What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Doogie Howser, M.D.
What scares you most about traveling? I am so afraid of losing my luggage but more importantly my lipstick.
What excites you most about traveling? Traveling to other countries and seeing how people outside of America live. I love a new adventure!
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: He believes that I have a problem with him being gay. I want to prove to him that I don’t.
Pet peeve about your teammate: He is too picky about keeping his house clean and gets mad when someone "messes it up" even though I'm just using the restroom.
What country and place would you most like to visit and why? I would love to go back to Japan. I had a great experience when I was living there and the people were terrific!
What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I hope to show my son that I love him unconditionally


 
Name: James Earl Corley
Age: 26
Hometown: Prattville, Ala. 
Connection to your teammate: Son
Current occupation: Resident Physician
Describe what you do: I am a brand new internal medicine resident who gets to take care of sick folks in the hospital.
3 words to describe you: Driven, compassionate and enthusiastic.
Favorite hobbies: Running, baking and watching movies.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I am most proud of being the head drum major for the Auburn University Marching Band - the highest level of student leadership and face of the program.
What famous person reminds you of yourself? Jim Parsons.
What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Kellie Pickler.
What scares you most about traveling? Traveling to places that have harsh anti LGBT laws. I am not one to hide the fact that I am gay.
What excites you most about traveling? Learning about the cultures of all the different people and places around the world.
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: We both usually have brilliant ideas but do not always listen to each other. Hopefully, the race will force us to start hearing what the other has to say.
Pet peeve about your teammate: She has no appreciation for quiet time. She will literally talk non-stop for hours!
What country and place would you most like to visit and why? I would love to visit Rome, Italy to see all of the great architecture and art it has to offer.
What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I am hoping we can reconnect and bond. After I came out, we were not on speaking terms for some time. We have started fixing this but hopefully the race will bring us closer together than ever.
 
 

[georgiapeach]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/_U_1Rlb88m8" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/_U_1Rlb88m8</a>

[georgiapeach]

saved

[stekay]

Plz win

[gamerfan09]

Oh my god, I love them <3

Definitely my favorite team pre-race!

"She could talk to a bush for an hour and think it was her best friend"

[georgiapeach]

^^We may have something in common!   

[Bookworm]

Love them!

[Theo]

They're also my #1 favorite pre season

[gamerfan09]

Alternate Cast Pic via:
http://www.ibtimes.com/amazing-race-2015-cast-announced-meet-season-27-contestants-photos-2080034

[Keepcopz]

Wow, this team's got lots of potential. <3

I hope they go really far! 

[gamerfan09]

One last alternative cast pic!

Via: http://www.buddytv.com/slideshows/the-amazing-race/meet-the-teams-of-the-amazing-race-season-27-12774.aspx

[TARUSAFan]

Denise is one cool mom. She's has that sense of humor. She reminds me of Shelly (of Shelly & Nici from S.25)

[paradoxinee]

Maggie and Luke 2.0 

A mother and a gay son. I know that she will be fierce <3

[Hysha]

I LOVE this team. Specially Denise! James Earl, I know you are here, tell your mom i'm her fan number 1. xD
And please, make it far! <3

[Maanca]

Sounds like a Margie & Luke story, except without the deafness.

If she didn't speak to him for a long time after he came out, I anticipate at least a little conflict.

[ZBC Company]

Wait is james gay

[paradoxinee]

Wait is james gay

Yes, he said that in his bio.

What scares you most about traveling? Traveling to places that have harsh anti LGBT laws. I am not one to hide the fact that I am gay.

[James_Earl]

I LOVE this team. Specially Denise! James Earl, I know you are here, tell your mom i'm her fan number 1. xD
And please, make it far! <3

You are so sweet! Thank you. I will definitely pass the message along! She will love hearing that.

[paradoxinee]

I LOVE this team. Specially Denise! James Earl, I know you are here, tell your mom i'm her fan number 1. xD
And please, make it far! <3

You are so sweet! Thank you. I will definitely pass the message along! She will love hearing that.

 

Hope that you and your mother had one of the best experience of your life 

[Declive]

"Jim Parsons" 

Those are promising!!

[Quốc Nghĩa]

Don't go down my favourites list like Magie and Luke in the end of the  season.

[bottle]

My favorites with Justin and Diana, Logan and Chris and Kelsey and Joey. Casting is so cool this season 

[ZBC Company]

Denise  is smoke hot mom

[Bookworm]

ZPOLER  

[ZBC Company]

James= Justin from TAR 19

[Marionete]

James= Justin from TAR 19

What? How?

[Jobby]

PLEASE DELIVER <33333333333333

[georgiapeach]

Alabama mother-son duo to compete on 'The Amazing Race' season 27

 
Amber Sutton | asutton@al.com   
 
on September 24, 2015 at 9:25 AM


A mother-and-son duo from Alabama will be among the teams grabbing their passports and touring the world when the new season of "The Amazing Race" premieres on Friday.

Denise Williams and James Earl Corely, both of Prattville, have watched "The Amazing Race" since its first season, and Corely said he knew from a young age that competing on the reality series that takes place around the world was something he'd do.

"I'm a big fan of the show, and I've always wanted to do it ever since I was little," said Corley. "He told me when he was in ninth grade and said 'mom, we're going to do this one day' and he made that day come true," added Williams.

While Williams, an administrative assistant, wasn't surpised that Corely, a recent graduate of UAB medical school, wanted to try out for the show, she was shocked to find out they had actually been selected after sending in a quick application and a short three-minute video the duo filmed on their back porch.

"James Earl called me and said 'Mom, they called," said Williams. "I told him to stop because I didn't believe him. I mean, you'd never believe that two small town people from Prattville would ever be on "The Amazing Race."

Though the pair was excited to travel the world and challenge themselves during the show's physical and mental competitions, their true goal was to reconnect following several months of not speaking after Corely told Williams he was gay.

When I was 22, I decided to come out of the closet to pretty much everyone," said Corely. "And mom did not have a great reaction at all. We didn't talk very much for half a year after that. And even after that, we didn't talk much."

Corely and Williams, a single mother, both said their time on the show helped mend their relationship since contestants on "The Amazing Race" are forced to depend on, and spend all their time with, their teammate from beginning to end.

"I think it's hard to go through something like that with someone and not get closer to them," said Corely. "It's impossible really because you're living every moment together, and you learn a lot about each other. That's the only person you can depend on."

While Williams, 51, and Corely, 26, couldn't discuss the details of their experience on the show, both said it was nerve-wracking, and thrilling, to take part in such a fast-paced, high stakes competition.

"I was scared, and I was nervous," said Williams. "I found myself standing on that starting line, and I'm just thinking 'what did I get myself into?' I was surrounded by all these people in their 20s, and I'm just like 'oh my god."

Despite her nerves, Williams said the opportunity to push herself and watch her son take on new challenges was an experience of a lifetime that the duo will now share.

"When you do something great, and your son is there to see it while doing great things himself, it just makes your day," said Williams.


http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_mother-son_duo_to_comp.html

[muninayo]

OMG i looooooove Denise!!!

and is that really james earl posting here?

[James_Earl]

OMG i looooooove Denise!!!

and is that really james earl posting here?

Yes it really is me. Although I'm probably going to have to stop reading my own thread. I've already seen way too much negative stuff out there. It makes me nervous to open anything now. Haha

[muninayo]

OMG i looooooove Denise!!!

and is that really james earl posting here?

Yes it really is me. Although I'm probably going to have to stop reading my own thread. I've already seen way too much negative stuff out there. It makes me nervous to open anything now. Haha

omg tell your mom i love her

please slay the season!!!

also we may have tons of questions for u, non-spoiler stuff like behind the scenes etc...hope u are allowed to answer?

[fossil-racer]

  I love you James and your Mom. Favorite team definitely.
2 questions
Do you get to keep all your clues for each leg after the race?
Did you think you lost 3rd because of a taxi?

[gamerfan09]

They're great! 

[James_Earl]

I love you James and your Mom. Favorite team definitely.
2 questions
Do you get to keep all your clues for each leg after the race?
Did you think you lost 3rd because of a taxi?

You are so sweet! Thank you so much. As far as your questions go, we unfortunately do not get to keep the clues. We have to turn them all in after the end of the leg. With the taxi, I really thought in the moment we had to keep the outfits on because you've seen it in the past seasons where teams wear the outfits they are given all the way to the pit stop. Well we asked three different taxis to take us to the lookout and none of them would because of the bathing suits. So I figured everyone else would have similar issues. We ended up running about 2 kilometers which took about 20 minutes and the taxi would have been much quicker (probably around 5 minutes). The funniest part is that Mom and I didn't even think to put our tennis shoes on and at one point I tied them to my wrist so we wouldn't lose them. Live and learn though. We survived this leg and did much better than we had hoped for so that was such a confidence booster.

[georgiapeach]

OMG i looooooove Denise!!!

and is that really james earl posting here?

Yes it really is me. Although I'm probably going to have to stop reading my own thread. I've already seen way too much negative stuff out there. It makes me nervous to open anything now. Haha

We are the "nice" forum. You will certainly get opinions....but you will NOT get rudeness here. 
 
http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,30307.0.html
 
I don't know how y'all do it! I would have a hard time reading negativity too....
 
And reminder to all the RFFers!! No racer posting here is to be asked for any SPOILER info. That includes via PM's. We are so delighted to have the racers here, but that means playing fair and being careful to not put any of them at any contractual risk at all.   

[Theo]

pls win <3

[Declive]

They were very very awesome on the first episode! Never left the top positions.

[gamerfan09]

One of my favorite teams! 

Merrily skipping to the Pit Stop while Tanner & Josh got a strained hamstring for second place
"I'm proud of you, you came out of my belly" <3

[couchracer]

Hi James Earl and Denise. From the amounts of comments y'all are one of the more popular teams.
Hopefully positive comments, more than the other kind.

[theschnauzers]

OMG i looooooove Denise!!!

and is that really james earl posting here?

Yes it really is me. Although I'm probably going to have to stop reading my own thread. I've already seen way too much negative stuff out there. It makes me nervous to open anything now. Haha

We are the "nice" forum. You will certainly get opinions....but you will NOT get rudeness here. 
 
http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,30307.0.html
 
I don't know how y'all do it! I would have a hard time reading negativity too....
 
And reminder to all the RFFers!! No racer posting here is to be asked for any SPOILER info. That includes via PM's. We are so delighted to have the racers here, but that means playing fair and being careful to not put any of them at any contractual risk at all.   

Let me add something here about advice that was given at another forum (TWoP) which was around from the beginning until Bravo closed it a few years ago. The original recapper and forum admin and moderator there (Sars and Miss Alli, mostly) would tell the family and friends of Racers who joined and posted to realize and understand that posters were free to criticize and criticize harshly, and if they weren't sure they could handle it, they should wait to read threads and posts about their Racer until after the season, if at all. Still a good rule, and being a Racer with thick skin is a very good attribute. even now (Ask Team Guido and Flo.)

And from me, James Earl, you are handling this just fine!

[Jobby]

I've chosen my favourite team this season.

They most probably won't win. But if they do, I'll scream my lungs out and cry a hundred days. Kiddin'.

I do think if there's another season and IF they don't win, they will be invited back <3

PLEASE.

[elthemagnifico]

Such an inspirational team <3333

That background stories behind the participates slay Justin and Diana 's <3333

[gamerfan09]

So happy they survived!

Denise is gonna be singing and cackling all the way to their win <3

[Bookworm]

If only Leg 10 wasn't so linear....

[gamerfan09]

BRING THEM BACK

[Keepcopz]

Good bye to one of the most positive and likable team this season. It's sad to see them go but I'm still happy we get to see them for 10 legs rather than them getting booted in Paris or Netherlands.

If James Earl's timetable is free, I think they're locked for returnee season. <3

[Jobby]

PLEASE RETURN <3

[Marionete]

Their exit was so sad

[RaceUntilWeDie]

It was. It's nice when teams get proper elimination edits and not just 20 seconds of "It sucks but I'm glad we did it!!!!"

[stekay]

Please we need them again <3

[Andre]

At least they won a leg, first parent/child team to won a leg since Dave & Connor in LV(Season 24). This team is great, should be an easy choice for UB or All Star

[tennis33]

Favourite team all season.

[paradoxinee]

At least they won a leg, first parent/child team to won a leg since Dave & Connor in LV(Season 24). This team is great, should be an easy choice for UB or All Star

Dave & Connor won a leg back in Season 22.

Anyway, my only favourite team this season. I know that they will not make to the final after a lot of struggling but happy that they made it far as possible.

[gamerfan09]

Reality TV World: How far behind Logan Fazio and Chris Gordon were you when you made it to the Pit Stop? Any idea what that time gap was?

James Earl Corley: Oh yeah, we know EXACTLY how much time that was. It was FOUR minutes.

Denise Williams: Four minutes.

Reality TV World: Oh that's all!? Wow, that's rough.

James Earl Corley: It was so close.

Source: http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-the-amazing-race-team-denise-williams-and-james-earl-corley-talk-(part-1)-18893.php

Four minutes </3 </3 </3

[James_Earl]

Reality TV World: How far behind Logan Fazio and Chris Gordon were you when you made it to the Pit Stop? Any idea what that time gap was?

James Earl Corley: Oh yeah, we know EXACTLY how much time that was. It was FOUR minutes.

Denise Williams: Four minutes.

Reality TV World: Oh that's all!? Wow, that's rough.

James Earl Corley: It was so close.

Source: http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-the-amazing-race-team-denise-williams-and-james-earl-corley-talk-(part-1)-18893.php

Four minutes </3 </3 </3

I agree. It was gut-wrenchingly close!

[Andre]

  If the pit stop location is in another place you still had a chance then considering how busy Agra street was even at night

[Marionete]

Oh, crap. But I had a feeling it was VERY close, since when you guys got the the pit stop, Logan/Chris (and Tiffany/Krista as well IIRC) were still there.

[cbacbacba1]

Remember how CaroJen list in season 24 by 4 second
4 minutes is a relatively much longer time difference already

[Alenaveda]

FROM CBS.COM:
http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/photos/1005314/-teamalabama-reflect-on-their-adventures-during-the-amazing-race/

#TeamAlabama Reflect On Their Adventures During The Amazing Race.

After traveling the globe, Denise and James Earl (#TeamAlabama) came up short on Episode 10 of The Amazing Race, and Phil Keoghan had to give them the disappointing news that their adventure was over.

While the family duo isn't proceeding to the next leg of the journey, the tenacious team learned a lot while traveling so closely together.

Read what this mother and son team had to say about their experience on The Amazing Race.

1. Which challenge was your favorite on the Race?
Denise: "The music challenge in Poland was a blast! We got to act crazy and wild while trying to earn some money. It also helped that we had that sweet guardian angel who gave us almost everything we needed!"
James Earl: "I think swinging across the Batoka Gorge in Zimbabwe was something I’ll never forget. It was very scary but ended up being so much fun!"

2. Which locale would want to visit again, if given the chance?
James Earl: "Getting to visit Oskar Schindler’s Factory in Krakow was a great experience. There is so much history that happened there, and to get to slow down and experience that moment during the Race meant a lot!"
Denise: "The Rose of Charity Orphanage in Zimbabwe meant a lot to me. I really want to go back on a mission trip there one day soon."

3. Do you have any tips for people wanting to apply to The Amazing Race?
James Earl: "Just be the best version of yourself as possible. People will spot anything fake about you from a mile away. Also don’t be afraid to talk about some of the not-so-finer moments about your life. We’ve received so many messages from LGBTQ people and their family members in similar situations who got so much from our story and made them change their views."

4. What advice does Denise have for families struggling to accept their family members after coming out?
Denise: "As parents, we all want our children to be happy, so just listen to them. You may not understand everything that happens but take the time to try. Just trying shows that you love them and are willing to change. No need to struggle over things instead of just enjoying the time you have with them."

5. If you were at the U-Turn board first, who would or wouldn't you ever U-Turn, and why?
Denise and James Earl: "We definitely would have U-Turned #TheGreenTeam! Justin and Diana are amazing people and fierce competitors, but this is a competition and we needed to do anything we could to slow them down!
Unfortunately, they are too good and ended up at all three U-Turn boards in first place! We never would have U-Turned #TeamTexas or #TheCheerleaders, though."

6. What was the most challenging part of the Race?
Denise and James Earl: "One thing that we could never have imagined is how hungry and tired you get. You sleep on airport floors while only eating airplane food for a couple days and then start racing around a city you’ve never been in before. Plus, you are usually running between 10-20 miles on any given leg! Being on the show has made us much more forgiving of previous racer’s mistakes and breakdowns."

7. Was there anything you learned about each other that you didn't know before the Race?
James Earl: "I learned that my mom is a lot tougher than she looks, especially with the laundry task in India, which was a tough physical challenge in some hot weather."
Denise: "I learned just how patient and compassionate my son is!"