The Amazing Race Host Phil Keoghan Celebrates Season 39's 'Really Strong Women,' And Cooks Up Ideas For Milestone Season 40

The Season 39 premiere of "The Amazing Race" is slamming on the gas with a brand-new twist that's sure to get racers (and fans) fired up. 

When the reality series' contestants hit the starting mat in Vancouver, Canada, host Phil Keoghan will unleash a twist that will turn the "Race" upside down. For the first time in "Amazing Race" history, all 13 teams will start the game with an Express Pass — for free. (No extra tasks or speed bumps here!) Starting the game with a huge power in hand could make all of the difference as to whether a team sinks of swims in the season's first few legs. (The premiere's episode title "Sorry Guys, We Used Our Express Pass" confirms that a pass will be used during the first leg. It all kicks off with a special two-night premiere beginning Wednesday, September 30 at 9:30/8:30c on CBS, and continuing Thursday, October 1 — same time, same place.)

"What would happen if everybody could get a Get Out of Jail [Free] card?" Keoghan teases. "Strategizing starts right at the beginning of the race, right in Episode 1." 

Below, TVLine talks to the "Race" host about what's to come in Season 39, from the dangerous roadblocks to come, to the teams he feels are the biggest standouts. Plus, we talk Season 40 possibilities, his appearance on "Hacks," and so much more. 

TVLINE | There are 13 Express Passes in play right from the jump. How is that going to affect the start of this race?
PHIL KEOGHAN | Normally with an Express Pass, you have to earn it, and then you figure out where you're going to use it before the end of a certain leg. Here, we just decided, what would happen if everybody could get a Get Out of Jail [Free] card? How would they use it? How would that affect the strategy? Strategy in competition reality shows is obviously a huge part of how teams or competitors get from one place to the other. Our show has always been: You earn your way. If you and I are a team, the choices we make affect how we get ahead. What this does is leave [teams] with this decision. Do we use it right out of the gate to ensure that we get at least out of the gate, or do we try to hold on to it, confident that we can survive the early legs, and then we have this thing to play when we might get into trouble? Strategizing starts right at the beginning of the race, right in Episode 1.

TVLINE | Which teams do you perceive as standouts and why?
We've got some really strong women. Definitely Ali and Joanna, who are the soccer players. They've played at a really high level in their careers and they're used to competition. The mindset of a professional athlete definitely lends itself to a competition like "The Amazing Race," particularly because it's so much about how you do personally. So with Ali and Joanna, having that professional mindset? Super important.

Then if you look at Ann-Marie and Riley, the mother-daughter team. Riley's also an Olympian. First of all, [she's] physically incredibly strong, but has that mental determination and that level of excellence in her chosen sport. And then if you look at Jody and Jenn, who are very bright, a forensic scientist and teacher... just looking at those three female teams, you realize the strength that's there. They come with different dynamics, mother-daughter, best friends, and then professional soccer players. I just love that we have these really strong women on.

But of course, it is "The Amazing Race." We like to mix it up. Javi and Erin. They're a couple who are madly in love, and Erin is really wanting Javi to show her that he can step up and take control. It's interesting that some people want to come on "The Amazing Race" and prove or change their relationship. I don't think I would ever choose "The Amazing Race" as a place to test a relationship or to change a relationship because of the strain of it, but hey.

TVLINE | Sounds like we're up for a bit of therapy this season. Why not do it on national television, right? [Laughs]
Every season, people have stuff to work through. Yeah, why not in front of millions of people around the world? [Laughs]

TVLINE | Last season was filled with former "Big Brother" houseguests. This season is all reality TV newbies. Is there a difference in running a season with reality veterans as opposed to one with all rookies?
At its core, our show is really about the cast that we have this season on "39." The "Big Brother" cast was a bit of an experiment. It was, can we interest "Big Brother" fans to take an interest in the "Race?" Inherently, what we learned is that "Big Brother" and "The Amazing Race" are really quite different types of reality shows, and that our audiences, there's not a huge amount of crossover, which I think speaks to the strength of the two formats. And same with "Survivor." I think what we've got back to on Season 39 is really where our audience is. They want to see Heartland Americans on "Amazing Race" as opposed to contestants from another genre of reality on our show. I'm glad we tried something, but I don't think it speaks to what our audience wants or what the core elements of "Amazing Race" are. It's a different show. There's a lot more luck involved. There's a lot more having to do for yourself rather than manipulating others. You've got to be in charge of your own destiny a lot more on "The Amazing Race" than you do in the "Big Brother" house. So I feel like this cast is really what our audience wants. They want to see people from Middle America in what we call flyover country between New York and L.A. It's less relatable to try to connect with a reality show contestant.

TVLINE | I always look forward to the roadblocks that bring some sense of danger — bungee jumping, skydiving, anything stunt-worthy. What kinds of roadblocks are up ahead for the racers this season?
I'm sure you realize, it's always perceived danger, right? Our goal is to take people around the world and get them home safely. So it's what you call perceived danger. "Oh, bungee jumping looks so dangerous." Is it really that dangerous? It's not really that dangerous, but it messes with people's heads. We're always trying to do things that mess with their heads. I promise you that there are challenges where they will be tested physically and mentally, and it's more pushing people outside their comfort zones, doing things that they didn't think they could do or maybe facing up to some fears they have of claustrophobia or heights or animals, bugs, whatever that might be.

TVLINE | Next season is quite a milestone. Season 40! Have conversations begun about what that could potentially look like?
Yeah, definitely. We're in conversations right now. We're also talking to fans about that because we want to know what the fans want. There have been all kinds of ideas, everything from repeating what we did on "Hacks" with celebrities, like a "Celebrity Race," to Second Chances to favorites. If you were in charge, what would you do?

TVLINE | I think celebrities could be fun. But maybe it's returnees, but only people who began their careers on "The Amazing Race." Keep it 100% in-house. No "Big Brother" or "Survivor" players.
Yeah, it's an interesting thing to cross over and we're seeing that a lot with contestants, even on other networks. It's a lot more pulling from here, there, and everywhere. People are, like you said, turning it into a career. For me, I still find the most exciting teams to watch are the ones that are kind of wide-eyed, and naive and innocent. They're not jaded by anything because they've never been a part of something like this before. The awe and wonder is increased exponentially because of that. I just love to see that. You're going to see that this season with Doug and Dylan, the grandfather and grandson. They've dreamed of doing this together. They've waited for Dylan to be old enough. He's only 18 when he comes on the show, his grandfather's 71, and they've been waiting and waiting for this moment, this opportunity. Whereas, sometimes if you have returning contestants from other shows, they're kind of like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're gonna do a soundbite and what do you need from me?" They're media savvy. It's just a different mindset.

TVLINE | As a huge "Hacks" fan, I have to circle back before I let you go. How was your experience working with Jean Smart and Kaitlin Olson?
[It was] super cool working with them. I think one of my favorite moments this year was ad-libbing with Jean after we got the written scene done. Just sort of riffing with her and going off-copy a wee bit. That was a highlight this year, for sure.