‘Survivor’ winners head up new ‘Amazing Race’ cast

“The Amazing Race” has not been shy about having former CBS reality stars on the show.

Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich of “Survivor” fame played twice, while “Big Brother’s” Jeff Schroeder and Jordan Lloyd, as well as Alison Irwin (and her non-“Big Brother” boyfriend Donny) all have appeared on the program. But now, for the first time, two winners will team up to compete as “Survivor: Africa” champ Ethan Zohn and “Survivor: The Amazon” victor Jenna Morasca head up the cast for the show’s 19th installment (premiering Sept. 25 on CBS), which will also feature some new twists to the game.

For Zohn, racing across the world with his longtime girlfriend is especially sweet considering his recent medical battles after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “Last year I was attached to a pump in complete isolation in a f—ing hospital room, and now I’m out traveling the world with the woman I love. Whatever happens, it’s gonna be okay,” Ethan told EW.com just before embarking on the race. “But if she screws up, I’m gonna kill her.”

Among the 10 other teams joining the longtime “Survivor” couple will be Zac Sunderland – who, at 16, became the youngest person to sail around the world alone – and his dad Laurence, former NFL tight end Marcus Pollard and his wife Amani, and Olympic snowboarders Andy Finch and Tommy Czeschin.

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The duos will experience a few new twists this time around, including the show’s first ever double elimination, and something called the Hazard, which is a penalty that one team will incur right at the starting line. And for the first time ever, “The Amazing Race” will be visiting the countries of Belgium, Denmark, Malawi, and Indonesia.

Seeing as how Ethan and Jenna both won their seasons of “Survivor,” which one of them will get to make the big decisions on the race? “We actually made a list of things that each of us is good at and not good at,” Jenna says. “I’m surprisingly more nervous than Ethan so I told him unless it’s a horseback riding, pole dancing, circus, animal, or shopping challenge, that he’s doing the first Roadblock.” But don’t be surprised if nice guy Ethan and his less-helpful partner have their differences along the way. Witness this one exchange:

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Ethan: “I played ‘Survivor’ different than Jenna played ‘Survivor.’ And if Jenna wants to stab someone in the back and do something evil and mean, it’s going to be tough for me to do that. I’m okay with helping someone fix their flat tire.”

Jenna: “That’s not gonna happen.”

Ethan: “I’m okay giving people food.”

Jenna: “That’s not gonna happen. If we’re racing for first place and the person in front of us has a flat tire, I’m probably going to pass you by without a second thought. I mean, I’m not going to run them over in the process to make sure they’re never going to get up. I’ll safely pass, with my flashers on.”

Make sure to check out all the team pictures in our “Amazing Race” cast gallery.

See full article at EW.com.