TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews
Best Friends James Branaman and Tyler Denk Make One 'Amazing' Finish
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Dec. 11 -- Four continents, 13 countries, 40,000 miles.
That's nothing after you've conquered a drug addiction.
Several years ago, models Tyler Denk and James Branaman from Los Angeles beat their addictions and got sober. Now, they're sharing $1 million after beating out 11 other teams in an 'Amazing Race' around the world.
After the finale, AOL TV editor Kelly Woo met the friends at 'The Amazing Race' convention (also known as TARcon), then interviewed them the next morning about die-hard fans, their fellow racers and "crazy" host Phil Keoghan.
Hey guys...
Tyler: When did you get home?
About 11:30PM. Did you enjoy TARcon?
Tyler: It was totally unexpected. When we arrived, there were 20 or 30 people outside, so we thought, "This is nice." Then we went inside, and the place just exploded.
You guys were mobbed. Was it fun to meet fans?
Tyler: Yeah, it was the first time we'd felt like celebrities. Everyone wanted a picture. It was great meeting these obsessed fans of 'Amazing Race.'
What are you going to do with the $1 million?
Tyler: James is buying a Lamborghini and I'm going to get an Aston Martin. No, just kidding. I've been living in an apartment for years, I'd like to buy a house.
What's it like going from recovering drug addicts to winners of 'The Amazing Race'?
Tyler: I've been sober for nine years, and I feel like the experience on 'The Amazing Race' is a direct result of getting sober.
What were you guys thinking when you were running up to the mat and you saw host Phil Keoghan?
Tyler: It was euphoric. We had been on the road over 30 days, we saw that we were the first team and we saw the eliminated teams. We knew we were going to take this little run to the mat for a million dollars. It's indescribable, the feeling was unbelievable.
How close were Rob and Kimberley behind you guys? Was the EZ Pass really the reason that you won?
Tyler: The fact that we got on the same flight with them was a big thing. And then honestly it was the EZ Pass cause they didn't necessarily know where to go, they were trying to follow us and they got trapped in the toll line. We went right through with the EZ Pass. They were only probably 10 to 15 minutes behind us, so it really came down to the EZ Pass, to be honest.
In the final episode, you guys got a little snippy with each other. Did the 'Race' help or hurt your friendship?
Tyler: It definitely didn't hurt it. The little fight at the end was just because we were so tired and so hungry and had been over 30 days of racing non-stop that it wears on your mental capacity. James and I have been best friends for the past eight to 10 years, and our friendship is so strong that we never really have a disagreement. It definitely helped us grow closer as friends. What friendship ever gets to experience something like that? It's very rare that two friends get to do something like that, and to win a million dollars on top of it.
It seems like you guys had this flirtatious yet competitive thing going on with the "Beauty Queens." What's the real story with your relationship?
Tyler: I think we actually bonded with them just 'cause in the last couple of legs before they were eliminated, we were neck and neck with them. We knew they were good. Ultimately, we were a little scared of them and that's why we were so happy to see them go, because they were our competition. I don't necessarily think that they ran a dirty race or they were all that mean or rude, as some people saw it. It's just that a lot of people bonded with other teams and helped other teams along the way and shared information. [The Beauty Queens], from the beginning to the end, were their own team and they ran their own race.
Do you think you'll keep in touch with any of your fellow racers?
Tyler: I know we'll keep in touch with Rob and Kim, and we have kept in touch with a lot of the other racers. A lot of them are spread out throughout the country, but we have been keeping in touch with e-mail as often as we can.
What was your favorite location on the race?
James: Definitely the Ukraine. It was somewhere I didn't know a whole lot about. We got to see what a beautiful country it is, and the people were so nice. I actually got to drive a Russian tank there and how often to do you get to do that? All my friends were so jealous. They were like, "I can't believe you got to drive a tank!"
Did you have a favorite challenge?
James: Obviously driving the Russian tank was one of my favorite challenges. Also, having to do the "angel dive" [at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium] it was something I was really scared to do. I really don't like heights that much, but it was an exhilarating feeling to overcome your fear.
Tyler: Phil's really cool, a really cool guy. I like him a lot.
Did you get to hang out with him?
Tyler: Yeah, we got to hang out with him in Mongolia. It was his birthday. [We partied] with the whole crew, production and everyone.
Did Phil get crazy?
Tyler: Phil gets a little crazy.
James: Phil got crazy.
What do you think about the All-Star edition?
Tyler: I don't really know anything about it. I would have loved to do it, but I'm really excited to watch it. I'm looking forward to it.
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