It's been a week of ups and downs for fans of CBS's long-running hit reality competition 'The Amazing Race.' The down? On Sunday night, the show failed to win the Outstanding Reality Program Emmy for the first time in eight years. The up? Today CBS finally announced the new cast members for the upcoming 17th season.

We have to say that, as per usual with 'The Amazing Race,' the good far outweighs the bad.

Now that the teams are announced, we can begin the speculation. Who will suit up this year for a chance at one million dollars and memories of a lifetime? Will an all-female team finally take first place? Will the token old couple last past the first episode? Are we in store for any more shocking relationship meltdowns on the finish mat this year?

It's all too soon to tell what's going to happen, of course, but it's never too soon to form an opinion. So, with that in mind, here's a quick look at the new teams you're going to love -- or love to hate:

• Andie and Jenna Andie De Kroon, 43, and Jenna Sykes, 21, are a mother-daughter team with a twist: the race is just the third time that Jenna, who was given up for adoption at birth, has ever met her biological mother. " I hope to get to know my birth mother through this incredible opportunity," Jenna said in her official CBS bio. "It is my hope that we will be able to spend a lot of time together and become friends."

• Brook and Claire Brook Roberts, 27, and Claire Champlin, 30, are no strangers to television: they co-host a Home Shopping show on jewelry. "I've been to mines all over the world and I know the chemical makeup of just about every gemstone on the planet!" Brook exclaims. We'll see if that skill comes in handy during the race.

• Chad and Stephanie Chad Waltrip, 26, and Stephanie Smith, 23, are a dating couple who share a secret travel fear: they both worry about being arrested in a foreign land. Hm. But if they do get put in the clink, Chad knows just who he would choose for his one phone call -- Matthew McConaughy. "It would be awesome to star in the movies he has been in as well as live life the way he does." Hard to argue with that.

• Connor and Jonathan Connor Diemand-Yauman, 22, and Jonathan Schwartz, 22, are best friends who also sing together in an a capella group at Princeton University. Which no doubt explains Jonathan's high-brow travel obsession with "the opportunity for me to pass gas on airplanes without anyone hearing it." Top that, Ivy League.

• Gary and Mallory Gary Ervin, 53, and his daughter Mallory, 24, are hoping to become the first father-daughter team to win the race. We're guessing that Mallory would also like to top last year's third place finish by former Miss Teen South Carolina Caite Upton and claim the beauty queen crown: Mallory is currently finishing her term as Miss Kentucky 2009.

• Jill and Thomas Jill Haney, 27, and Thomas Wolfard, 30, are currently dating, which on 'the Amazing Race' is usually the kiss of death for any long-term happiness thanks to the killer fatigue that usually sets in by stage six. But that won't be a problem for these two, right guys? Or... actually, Jill lists their biggest hurdles on the Race as "communication and not being short tempered with one another." Uh-oh. We're already waiting for those relationship status updates on Facebook.

• Katie and Rachel Katie Seamon, 23, and Rachel Johnston, 24, are hoping to expose the world to a totally different kind of Jersey Shore: the professional beach volleyball players are both new Jersey natives. The big difference between these two and the ladies of MTV's 'Jersey Shore?' According to Rachel, "I often sleep with a stuffed hippo named Winston." We're guessing that wouldn't even make Snooki's top ten list.

• Michael and Kevin Michael Wu, 58, and Kevin Wu, 20, are used to the spotlight: not only is Kevin the youngest contestant in 'Amazing Race' history, he also has over a million subscribers on YouTube, where he co-stars along with his dad. And why is his father, a software consultant, so popular with the online crowd? According to Kevin, "he knows how to keep it real." That should give them a big leg up on the race.

• Nat and Kat Nat Strand, 31, and Kat Chang, 35, aren't just friends: they're also doctors and self-described nerds with extensive travel experience. Still, even hot doctors occasionally wonder if the grass is greener on the other side, which explains Nat's answer to the question of whom she'd want to trade places with: either "The Dalai Lama or Heidi Klum." Half a dozen of one, right?

• Nick and Vicki Nick DeCarlo, 26, and Vicki Casciola, 26, are a dating couple who believe, as Nick puts it, that "people think we're more of the rough couple." That's likely due to the expanse of tattoos, the Harley, the mohawk and Nick's insistence that pit bulls are "misunderstood animals." But Vicki says that's why they are running the race -- so people will learn that they are "really a down-to-Earth couple." Duly noted.

• Ron and Tony Ron Kellum, 45, and Tony Stovall, 42, are best friends with very different physiques and careers: Ron is a director and choreographer, while Tony is a doctoral student attending the University of Arizona. but they have one thing in common: each of them list their pet peeve as the fact that the other is always on the phone. Here's a suggestion, guys: stop calling each other. Problem solved.

For more on the new teams and the new season, which premieres on Sun., Sept. 26, here's a sneak preview: