Da Vinci Code Themed Challenge Highlight Tonight's Episode of Amazing Race  4/12/06

TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIAL "DA VINCI CODE" -- THEMED CHALLENGE WHICH STARTS IN ITALY AND SENDS THE TEAMS RACING TO ATHENS, GREECE, ON "THE AMAZING RACE 9," IN ITS NEW TIME PERIOD ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT

"Herculean Effort For Some Herculean Dudes" -- Teams participate in a special "Da Vinci Code"-themed challenge in which teams are given a portion of Da Vinci's famed "Vitruvian Man" and must find the other half in order to solve the clue, on THE AMAZING RACE 9, Wednesday, April 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

While Racing through Greece, teams return to ancient times and compete in Olympic games that include a grueling bout in the mud with a Greek wrestler.  During a roadblock, teams face a 240-foot bungee jump off the Corinth Canal bridge and one racer becomes paralyzed with fear.  Several teams make a crucial mistake when they fail to follow the clue's directions correctly.  Meanwhile, a lack of focus and confusion plagues several teams who get lost while driving, and their frustration fuels an emotional breakdown for one team. 

THE AMAZING RACE is now broadcast in a new timeslot on WEDNESDAYS (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). THE AMAZING RACE has won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Reality Program.  

Following are the 11 Teams, listed in no particular order:

Name: BJ AVERELL (Male) Occupation: Online Tutor

Age: 26

Hometown: Los Angeles

Name: TYLER MACNIVEN Occupation: Filmmaker

Age: 25

Hometown: San Francisco

Relationship: BEST FRIENDS

Name: SCOTT BRAGINTON-SMITH Occupation: Sales

Age: 41

Hometown: West Harwich, Mass.

Name: JOHN LOWE Occupation: Wealth Manager

Age: 38

Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.

Relationship: LIFE-LONG FRIENDS (ELIMINATED 2/28)

Name: YOLANDA BROWN-MOORE Occupation: Science Teacher

Age: 27

Hometown: Chicago

Name: RAY WHITTY Occupation: Attorney

Age: 31

Hometown: Chicago

Relationship: DATING

Name: MONICA CAYCE Occupation: Student

Age: 23

Hometown: Fayetteville, Ark.

Name: JOSEPH MEADOWS Occupation: Homebuilder

Age: 23

Hometown: Fort Smith, Ark.

Relationship: DATING

Name: DESIREE CIFRE Occupation: Writer

Age: 24

Hometown: New York

Name: WANDA LOPEZ-ROCHFORD Occupation: Corporate Trainer

Age: 44

Hometown: Smyrna, Ga.

Relationship: MOTHER AND DAUGHTER (ELIMINATED 3/21)

Name: MICHELLE GARNER Occupation: Homemaker

Age: 36

Hometown: Hattiesburg, Miss.

Name: LAKE GARNER Occupation: Dentist

Age: 37

Hometown: Hattiesburg, Miss.

Relationship: MARRIED PARENTS

Name: JONI GLAZE Occupation: Children's Minister

Age: 44

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Name: LISA HINDS Occupation: Realtor/Artist

Age: 48

Hometown: Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

Relationship: SISTERS (ELIMINATED 3/7)

Name: BARRY LAZARUS Occupation: Retired Physician

Age: 63

Hometown: Silverthorne, Colo.

Name: FRAN LAZARUS Occupation: Retired Accountant

Age: 61

Hometown: Silverthorne, Colo.

Relationship: MARRIED 40 YEARS

Name: JEREMY RYAN Occupation: Valet

Age: 26

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Name: ERIC SANCHEZ Occupation: Waiter

Age: 27

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Relationship: FRIENDS

Name: DAVID SPIKER Occupation: Musician

Age: 30

Hometown: Manhattan, Kansas

Name: LORI WILLEMS Occupation: Pizza Hut Manager

Age: 25

Hometown: Manhattan, Kansas

Relationship: DATING (ELIMINATED 4/5)

Name: DANI TORCHIO Occupation: Recent College Graduate

Age: 22

Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.

Name: DANIELLE TURNER Occupation: Recent College Graduate

Age: 22

Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.

Relationship: CHILDHOOD FRIENDS (ELIMINATED 3/28)

THE AMAZING RACE 9 is an adventure reality show hosted by Phil Keoghan.  The show features 11 teams of two on a trek around the world for approximately 30 days.  At every destination, each team of two will have to compete in a series of challenges -- some mental and some physical -- and only when the tasks have been completed will they learn their next destination.  Teams who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning $1 million.

Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman and Hayma Screech Washington are the executive producers for Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc., in association with Touchstone Television and Amazing Race Productions.  THE AMAZING RACE was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.

RATING:  To Be Announced

Source: CBS Press Release