On April 17 at 9 p.m., The Amazing Race will premiere its 31st season with a cast of familiar faces. The teams will consist of five pairs from the show’s past, as well six duos from Survivor and Big Brother. According to host Phil Keoghan, the CBS reality crossover event-of-the-decade has been in the works for quite some time.

“It’s been an idea that’s been thrown out by fans for a long time,” he told Parade.com. “There’s been a lot of chitter-chatter among the various franchises which show is the toughest, and what would happen if you put some of the toughest players from those franchises in competition against each other.”

The official cast announcement last week garnered a variety of reactions. They range from fans of all three shows excitably speculating how all their favorite reality stars will do, to detractors who are not fans of bringing in pairs from other shows. To the latter, Keoghan has some words of wisdom.

“Be patient and give this a chance,” he says, “you may be surprised. While these people have been on Big Brother and Survivor, they have not been on Amazing Race. They are, in essence, fresh. And they will be shocked. They’re in the real world dealing with real-life problems. They are going to be traveling distances they can never imagine. It’s a whole other dynamic.”

That dynamic should pay off in a massively entertaining way. One of the advantages of casting previous reality contestants over completely fresh faces is that they’ve already proven they can provide good television. “When you bring in people who are new to television, you’re rolling the dice,” Keoghan admits. “There are always people who exceed expectations and people who disappoint because you don’t know how they’ll respond to sleep deprivation, long hours and competition. You’re taking more of a risk. There’s no risk with these characters. These are all tried-and-true people who have previously delivered. They are distinct, savvy competitors. It’s another layer.”

Below, Keoghan gives his thoughts on this season’s eleven teams, including who stands a chance of avoiding being “Philiminated.”

Janelle Pierzina (Big Brother 6, 7, & 14) and Britney Haynes (Big Brother 12 & 14) — Friends

“My first impression is wondering how they were going to deal with the sleep deprivation and travel. They’re used to bringing up kids; that in itself is a great qualification for being adaptable and flexible in dealing with new challenges. But I’m not so sure how they’re going to handle moving around the world and coping with some more physical challenges. In a house, there are a lot of mind games going on. The Amazing Race is very reactive. There’s not a lot of time to strategize. There’s no briefing on what to do with The Amazing Race; you just do it. I’m wondering how they’re going to cope with the randomness of that.”

Nicole Franzel (Big Brother 16 & 18) and Victor Arroyo (Big Brother 18, The Challenge 31) — Dating (now Engaged)

“The first thing that struck me was how nicely matched they are. They’re meant to be together. They complement each other very well, like a yin and yang. I immediately warmed to them. I feel like there’s a very special bond between the two of them. A big part of The Amazing Race is coordination and teamwork, being respectful of each other as team members. I think they’ll do well because of that. I also really love that they seem so genuinely excited about being a part of this race. They just wanted this experience together and to spend time together. I’m excited for them and love their warm energy.”

Rachel Reilly (Big Brother 12 & 13, The Amazing Race 20 & 24) and Elissa Slater (Big Brother 15) — Sisters

“I know right from the get-go that Rachel is going to give it everything. She can bring it. She’s obviously extremely emotional, but there’s no denying that she’s incredibly fierce. She loves competing and hates losing. If her sister is anything like that, we’re going to have a really strong female team. You can tell neither one of them take any B.S. They’re definitely a force. If anybody is to underestimate them, they’ve got a wake-up call coming.”

Chris Hammons (Survivor 33) and Bret LaBelle (Survivor 33) — Friends

“It’s a really interesting dynamic. It’s nice to see really good friends. Chris has got this intensity to him that is palpable. You can just see it. At the starting line, he’s champing at the bit to get going. Being a lawyer, you have to have that edge. There’s a rough exterior to him when he’s competing, but he’s a real softie when you’re just having a heart-to-heart with him. I would describe Bret as a big teddy bear. He looks tough, but you can’t help but like him. And he told me he’s been really keen on going to New Zealand, which makes me like him even more. [Laughs.]”

Corinne Kaplan (Survivor 17 & 26) and Eliza Orlins (Survivor 9 & 16) — Friends

“They’re the team who wear their personalities on their sleeves the most. Corinne openly talks about the fact that she can be a bitch. It’s not something we’ve really seen on the show before, someone who is that vocal about who they are. She’s got a very tough side to her. She’s cutthroat and doesn’t take any crap. It’s like she has a point to prove, a score to settle. Eliza doesn’t seem as forthright as her partner, but she’s still super competitive and intense. They’re an intense team. You know they mean business, and it means a lot for them to do well. They’re not intimidated by anybody.”

Rupert Boneham (Survivor 7, 8, 20, & 27) and Laura Boneham (Survivor 27) — Married

“Rupert has become part of the Survivor zeitgeist. If I could recognize anyone from the show, his name would probably be the first one that came up. He looks like the quintessential Survivor character with his Robinson Crusoe look and Tom Hanks from Castaway beard. His wife is a lot softer as a personality. I like them. I thought they would have more gruff personalities. But the two of them together are a very sweet couple.”

Art Velez (The Amazing Race 20) and J.J. Carrell (The Amazing Race 20) — Coworkers and Friends

“They’re fan favorites from way back. As I mentioned, this idea has been percolating for a long time. The suggestion to have them come back has been around ever since they were on. There’s just something about them. They’re also older, so people connect with them on that level; with age comes wisdom. These two have been around and seen a lot. Anybody who works as Border Patrol agents has seen a lot of heartache and dealt with things we don’t even think about. They’re hardened individuals.”

Becca Droz (The Amazing Race 29) and Floyd Pierce (The Amazing Race 29) — Friends

“I’m a huge fan of them; I love these two. I was really sad about how they went out in Vietnam. I’ve always felt they were a team that had the potential to win the race. Even after Floyd lost the passport in Zanzibar, they recovered. There’s something about this team that makes them fun to watch. And how crazy is it that they got randomly put together, and they’re both from Boulder, Colorado? What they were before is what you’re going to see again. Lots of enthusiasm, energy and a desire to win. They messed up last time with losing the passport and forgetting to hydrate. I can guarantee they’re not going to make those mistakes again.”

Colin Guinn (The Amazing Race 5) and Christie Woods (The Amazing Race 5) — Life Partners

“They were always one of my favorite teams. Colin is responsible for one of the more famous sayings in Amazing Race history: ‘My ox is broken!’ What’s really interesting is the story arc of their relationship and who they are as individuals. Colin was this feisty, competitive, take-no-prisoners character. His emotions were just out there. There’s an intensity to him that makes him completely oblivious to everything around them. Their relationship was a relatively new one. Now they come back as parents, older and more mature. They’re into meditation and self-awareness. Christie is a relationship coach who emphasizes listening skills. They’re quite different people from before. The competitive aspect is the same, but their demeanor is not.”

Leo Temory (The Amazing Race 23 & 24) and Jamal Zadran (The Amazing Race 23 & 24) — Cousins

“Another fan favorite team. You never know what they’re going to say. There’s no filter, particularly with Leo. He just says what’s on his mind, and sometimes it’s not exactly appropriate timing. They’re both huge personalities that are used to entertaining crowds. When you get the two of them together, it can be hysterical. Expect to see them rattle a few cages with some of the other teams because they’re so loud and opinionated.”

Tyler Oakley (The Amazing Race 28) and Korey Kuhl (The Amazing Race 28) — YouTubers and Friends

“They’re another team who people love to watch. They have a great friendship. It’s great to see their team dynamic; it’s different from any alliance on Survivor or Big Brother. They’re blood brothers. They have this very special relationship and friendship that is great to watch. I really enjoy them, and I think the fans will enjoy having them back.”