At 6-foot-3, Herbert Lang has earned the nickname "Flight Time" with the Harlem Globetrotters, and could arguably have called himself one of the tallest members participating in the 15th season of "The Amazing Race."

But if he really wanted to keep that title, he shouldn't have partnered with Nathaniel Lofton. A fellow Globetrotter, Lofton -- known as "The Big Easy" -- stands 6-foot-9, and both will compete against 11 other teams to see who will win $1 million.

"The Amazing Race" premieres Sept. 27 with a two-hour special and, as expected, an unusual assortment of teams filled with people who most likely will spend the entire journey creating drama not just in the race, but in how they get along.

That definitely seems to be the goal of the producers when it comes to the father-son team Gary Tomljenovich and Matt Tomljenovich of Monatana, which CBS described as a Mac-PC relationship. Gary is a 47-year-old construction manager and mortgage banker who likes to hunt and listen to classic rock while Matt, 22, is more interested in heavy metal and playing video games.

"The Amazing Race" got a bumpy start when it premiered just before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with 11.8 million viewers, but was pulling in just over 9 million viewers halfway through the first season.

The seventh race, run in Spring 2005, did far better in total viewership, attracting 11.8 million viewers for its premiere and finishing with 16 million for its finale. The most recent season airing last spring attracted an average of 10.6 million viewers for CBS.

Producers say the 15th edition will race across eight countries in 21 days, and will eliminate one team before they even hit the starting line.

"This season, we wanted to keep the racers and our fans on their toes and make sure no one gets too comfortable," said co-creator Bertram van Munster in a release. "We're adding some new surprise elements including our quickest elimination ever as well as revisiting one of the most challenging roadblocks our teams have ever encountered during our past 15 seasons."

The other teams include:

-- Lance Layne and Kerri Morrione from Massachusetts, an engaged couple who bring black belt karate skills to the mix.

-- Professional poker players Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle of California who have been the last women standing in what is traditionally a male-dominated activity more than once, and hope to do the same thing on "The Amazing Race."

-- Yoga teachers Eric Paskel and Lisa Paskel of California, who are both vegans and have been married for 18 years.

-- Former camp counselors Zev Glassenberg and Justin Kanew of California who have been friends for six years. Glassenberg is the first contestant on the reality show to have Asperger's Syndrome, and Kanew is vice president of development for National Lampoon.

-- Garrett Paul and Jessica Stout of California have been dating on and off for seven years. Paul is a day trader while Stout is a freelance editor.

-- Marcy Maloy, a 60-year-old advertising photographer, and Ronald Shalita, a 59-year-old stock trader and math tutor, have dated since meeting online, and want to show off how fit they are despite their age.

-- Mike Combs, a 22-year-old aspiring singer, and Canaan Smith, a 26-year-old professional songwriter from Nashville who just started dating. They have spent "every waking hour" together since falling for each other a few months before the race, but we all know how reality television will put that to the test.

-- Brothers Daniel McMillen and Samuel McMillen, both students, and both recently finding out that the other was gay.

-- Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney of San Diego, an account executive and a student who have known each other since grade school and been dating in recent months.

-- Former Miss America Ericka Dunlap of Nashville and marketing tour manager Brian Kleinschmidt, a married couple who met nine years ago in college, and who Kleinschmidt would not let sleep until Dunlap agreed to go out with him.

"The Amazing Race" has one six Emmys for Outstanding Reality Competition, and is hosted by Phil Keoghan. It premieres Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.