New 'Amazing Race' season includes 'School of Rock' scribe

Mel White and Mike White of 'The Amazing Race'

Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS

The 14th installment of CBS' Emmy-winning "The Amazing Race" will premiere in February with at least one familiar face.

CBS announced on Monday (Jan. 26) that one of the teams competing for the "Race" prize will feature "School of Rock" screenwriter and co-star Mike White, paired with his gay activist father.

Mainstream moviegoers will recognize White as Ned Schneebly from "School of Rock," while indie fans might know him as Buck from "Chuck & Buck." 

"The Amazing Race," which has won six consecutive reality series Emmys, will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET with Phil Keoghan returning to greet the teams at the mat.

This will be the first time that the "Race" has traveled to Siberia and Romania, on a jaunt that will span 40,000 miles and nine countries over 22 days.

"Heading into our 14th season, I wanted to pull out all the stops.  We have extreme climates, intense roadblocks and less time in airports, which adds up to an exhausting course for the Racers.  Whether you're a screen writer, a Harvard graduate, a jockey or a carpenter, this Race will test your stamina, your heart and your will to win," said Bertram van Munster, executive producer/co-creator of "The Amazing Race."

In addition to the father-and-son White team, the Race will include a team of stuntment, a team of former NFL cheerleaders and the race's first deaf contestant. There's also a more familiar assortment of pairings including the familiar couple where the woman wants a ring, but the dude isn't ready to commit, plus the strong women eager to prove that an all-female team can actually win.

A complete list of contestants:

Names: Mark Munoz and Michael Munoz

Ages: 48, 51

Occupations: Stuntmen

Relationship: Brothers

Names: Tammy Jih and Victor Jih

Ages: 26, 35

Occupations: Lawyers

Relationship: Siblings and Harvard Law grads

Names: Lakisha Hoffman and Jennifer Hoffman

Ages: 28, 24

Occupations: Programming coordinator, Marketing assistant

Relationship: Siblings and former collegiate athletes

Names: Christie Volkmer and Jodi Wincheski

Ages: 37, 40

Occupations: Flight attendants

Relationship: Friends

Names: Cara Rosenthal and Jaime Edmondson

Ages: 26, 29

Occupations: Law student, former police officer

Relationship: Former Miami Dolphins' cheerleaders

Names: Brad and Victoria Hunt

Ages: 52, 47

Occupations: Distribution dispatcher, Tax manager

Relationship: Married

Names: Mel White and Mike White

Ages: 68, 38

Occupations: Writer/clergyman, Writer/producer/actor

Relationship: Father/Son

Names: Linda and Steve Cole

Ages: 52, 43

Occupations: Customer service supervisor, Carpenter

Relationship: Married

Names: Jennifer Hopka and Preston McCamy

Ages: 26, 28

Occupations: Student, Software Engineer

Relationship: Dating

Names: Amanda Blackledge and Kris Klincka

Ages: 23, 24

Occupations: Student, Sales representative

Relationship: Dating

Names: Margie Adams and Luke Adams

Ages: 51, 23

Occupations: Clinical research associate, College graduate

Relationship: Mother/Son

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.