The race is on again, as The Amazing Race season 36 is underway on CBS, with 13 new teams setting off on a global adventure in pursuit of $1 million. But just who are these teams of two taking on the challenge as part of The Amazing Race season 36 cast?
Before we take a look at the teams, returning to The Amazing Race to oversee things is host Phil Keoghan. He has been with the show since the very beginning, winning 10 Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program as one of the show's producers.
As for the new contestants, among the group are a former NFL player and his wife, a pair of firefighter moms, military pilots and twin brothers. You'll get to know more about all of the teams in 90-minute episodes of The Amazing Race each week, but get the basics of each team directly below. Also, check back each week as we update the standings and who has been eliminated, as there are not going to be legs where a team is not sent home.
See where things stand after the April 24 episode.
1. Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete
(Up one spot)
Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete are another romantic couple testing their relationship on The Amazing Race. The New Yorkers are hoping the experience allows them to get to know each other better and perhaps prove that they are ready for the next step in their relationship.
2. Danny and Angie Butler
(Up three spots)
The Butlers are a mother-and-son team from the West Coast. Danny is a university resident director from San Diego, while Angie is a seventh-grade teacher in Walla Walla, Wash. Danny calls his mom his hero and Angie says she is living the dream partnering with her son for this adventure.
3. Rod and Leticia Gardner
(Same as last week)
As a former NFL player, Rod Garnder says he is used to pressure situations, but his wife Leticia is a self-proclaimed fighter as well, making them a potentially formidable team that is not going to give up easily. They got out to the early lead in the race after the season premiere.
4. Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun
(Same as last week)
Amber and Vinny are a young couple who also both work as nurse anesthetists. In addition to striving for first place and the big cash prize, they seem focused on being good partners to each other through this daunting challenge.
5. Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main
(Up one spot)
Having met through a group called Girls Who Like Girls Who Like to Hike, couple Yvonne and Melissa are ramping things up from hiking with The Amazing Race. This duo is "extra competitive" and is ready to take on all of their challengers in the race.
6. Juan Villa and Shane Bilek
(Down five spots)
Juan and Shane met at fighter pilot training, which they describe as "the hardest, best part of your life." How will the intense, fast pace of The Amazing Race compare? Juan is confident that he and his teammate are ready for it, saying they know how to pick each other up and give that extra push when needed.
Eliminated
7. Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith
Firefighter friends Sunny and Elizabeth started in last place and had a hard time navigating in Montevideo, Uruguay, not allowing them to make up any ground and ultimately being eliminated in seventh place.
8. Derek and Shelisa Williams
Retired police officers Derek and Shelisa started their episode in last place and couldn't catch a break to got out of it, as they were eliminated in the Argentina leg of the competition.
9. Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero
Cousins Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero ran into some problems driving a stick shift car, which put that behind the other teams that in the end was just to big a gap to overcome.
10. Michelle and Sean Clark
Michelle and Sean found themselves in last entering The Amazing Race episode 4, and unfortunately they could not improve on their standings as they raced through Colombia, officially being eliminated in this stage.
11. Anthony and Bailey Smith
The twins Anthony & Bailey were eliminated on the third leg of the race. While they started toward the back of the pack, where they truly did themselves no favor was in their first Detour task, going back and forth a couple of times on which one to try and complete. While they almost caught up with some of the other teams, the gap they created for themselves was too much to overcome and they were eliminated in 11th place.
12. Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster
The father-daughter team of Chris and Mary unfortunately couldn't make it past the first stop of The Amazing Race season 36, losing in the second half of the opening megaleg.
13. Maya and Rohan Mody
Despite being the youngest competitors on The Amazing Race season 36, Maya and Rohan Mody are the first to be eliminated. They quickly got lost on their way to challenges and were never able to fully recover the time they lost.
New episodes of The Amazing Race season 36 air Wednesdays at 9:30 pm ET/PT on CBS. Previous episodes are available to watch on Paramount Plus.
