Local Reporters Now Contestants in ‘Amazing Race’
For fans of CBS’s Amazing Race, the 27th season of the show kicked off Monday, June 22, in Venice Beach, California.
Among the contestants are KEYT/KCOY/KKFX staff members Kelsey Gerckens and Joe Buttitta (seen in the photo wearing a navy polo shirt.) Buttitta anchors the morning and midday news on NewsChannel 3 and Gerckens is the stations’ Ventura County reporter. The couple began dating months ago, and their story captured the attention of show producers.
Other racers include:
Ernest Phillips and Jin Lao: Brothers from Boston, Massachusetts.
Denise Williams and James Earl Corley: Mother and son from Prattville, Alabama.
Cindy and Rick Chac: Newlyweds from San Diego, California.
Alex Manard and Adam Dingeman: Cousins from Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa, respectively.
Justin Scheman and Diana Bishop: Engaged couple from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jazmine Lewis and Danielle Littleton: Athletes from Los Angeles, California.
Tanner Kloven and Josh Ahern: Best friends from Dallas, Texas.
Kelly Berning and Shevonne Sullivan: TMZ editor and post production supervisor, respectively, from Los Angeles, California.
Logan Fazio and Chris Gordon: Dating paparazzi from Miami Beach, Florida.
Tiffany Chantell Torres and Krista DeBono: Friends from Hoboken, New Jersey, and Staten Island, New York, respectively.
Fans of the show and the new cast of Season 27 gathered together before the 11 teams took off. Former racers, including the winner of the very first Amazing Race, were also present and gave some timely advice to the 22 racers who completed their first challenge on Monday.
The players are headed off to their first destination, Rio de Janeiro.
Amazing Race will kick off the season premiere on Friday, September 25 at 8 p.m. on KCOY 12.
