New ‘Amazing Race’ adding families into the mix

“The Amazing Race” is going family style.

The eighth season of CBS’ late-blooming reality hit, beginning Sept. 27, introduces a new twist: Ten teams of four family members compete for a $1 million prize in a worldwide sprint.

Replacing the typical two-person teams, the “Family Edition” cast includes two groups of grown-up siblings, a dad with three sons-in-law and a widow with her three teenage kids.

CBS pushed the family concept as a new wrinkle for the series, which scored its best ratings last spring and has won two Emmys as best competition-reality show.

“I was scared,” says casting director Lynne Spillman, who feared “duds” among family members or timid tykes. “But it was so much better than I ever thought. The people we ended up with were pretty adventurous and excited. From the kids’ point of view, they were ready for anything.”

“Anytime you put a family of four together, you get interesting dynamics,” adds executive producer Bertram van Munster. “It’s a pretty humorous and explosive mix.”