Mel & Mike

Mel & Mike
Team Profile
Born:	(1940-07-26) July 26, 1940 (Mel) (1970-06-28) June 28, 1970 (Mike)
Hometown:	Lynchburg, Virginia (Mel) Santa Monica, California (Mike [TAR14]) Los Angeles, California (Mike [TAR18])
Relation:	Father/Son
Occupation:	Writers
Legs Competed:	7
Legs Won:	1
Placement:	6th
Average Position:	3.57
RoadblockCount:	Mel: 3 Mike: 3
CountriesRaced:
Legs Competed:	3
Legs Won:	0
Placement:	10th
Average Position:	8.33
RoadblockCount:	Mel: 1 Mike: 1
CountriesRaced:

James Melville "Mel" White and Michael Christopher "Mike" White are a Father/Son team on The Amazing Race 14 and The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business.

In The Amazing Race 14, Mel's age and physical limitations tended to hinder the team's speed, which was further compounded by a groin injury that Mel suffered on the first leg. Nevertheless, their ability to keep calm in the face of dire situations allowed them to keep up with the pack, even once winning a leg. However, in the seventh leg, Mel & Mike made the decision to deviate from the pack while searching for their first clue in Thailand, causing them to fall behind and eventually finishing last, eliminating them in 6th place.

In Unfinished Business, despite Mel's age becoming an even bigger hindrance early on, they were able to keep up with their competitors, at times even racing near the front of the pack. However, in the third leg, their connecting flight to Japan was delayed, placing Mel & Mike in a race to avoid last with four other teams. They then both developed hypothermia while performing the Detour, and were sent directly to the Pit Stop to be eliminated in 10th place.

Profile

Retrieved from CBS.com

The Amazing Race 14 The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Mel White (68); Mike White (38) Hometown: Lynchburg, Va / Santa Monica, Calif.. Occupation: Mel (Writer, Clergyman); Mike (Writer, Producer, Actor); Relationship: Father/Son Mike and Mel had a pretty typical family life until Mike was 11 years old, which is when Mel told the family that he was gay. Mel and Mike's mother remained married until Mike and his sister, Erinn, went to college. Mel is now married to his life partner of 27 years, Gary Nixon. Mike works as a writer, director and actor in Los Angeles. His writing credits include the feature films "Nacho Libre" and "School of Rock," in which he also starred opposite Jack Black and Sarah Silverman, as well as the television series "Pasadena." Mike and Mel are eager to spend some quality time racing around the globe. Mike describes himself as entertaining, thoughtful and "ridiculously pale." These two might not be the most physical team on the Race, but they'll surely compensate with their wit and communication skills. Mel, a gay-rights activist, has worked as a writer, professor, filmmaker and a pastor and is eager to have a once in a lifetime experience with his youngest child. He's confident that his people skills will give him an advantage over some of the other Racers. He describes himself as energetic, caring and passionate and enjoys scuba diving and racquetball. When asked who he would model his style of game play after, he pointed to Season 7 winners Uchenna and Joyce, while Mike will model his game play after the "never say die" attitude of Charla and Mirna. Mike and Mel are well-traveled, opinionated and huge fans of the Race. Mel Age: 70 Hometown: Lynchburg, Va. Connection to your Teammate: Father Current Occupation: Writer and activist Previous Season/Result: Season 14/6th place Biggest mistake you made in your previous season: Not insisting that we take the fast forward, use our remaining funds to support an orphanage in Thailand, and jump to the front of the line (instead of being eliminated). Most memorable moment from your first Race: Soaring out over the Bavarian Alps. Favorite place you visited on your first season: Siberia, I expected gulags and icebergs. Instead, I discovered great cities, friendly people and one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, Novosibirsk. Why do you want to run the Race again? To spend quality, even though stressful, time with my son and to enjoy the Race wholeheartedly. How have you changed since the last time you competed? Now that I'm 70 years old I've joined a very elite number of old racers. Now, I feel like I am representing everyone that is older than 70, and I don't want to fail them. What are you passionate about? Helping young gay men see why "it does get better." The recent increase in suicide among gay men breaks my heart. People would be surprised to learn: My partner, Gary, and we were married in California on June 18, 2009 after spending almost 30 years together. One location that you hope to go on this adventure: Galapagos Islands or Bhutan, the "happiest" country in Asia. Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: At 70, I will probably be the oldest person on the Race. My son, at age 40, will also be one of the older Racers. Together, we are 110 years old! What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race again (other than winning one million dollars): I want to stay in the Race at least as long as last time so that I won't disappoint my son. Pet peeve about your teammate: He wants us to pack so lightly that we will probably freeze in cold weather and dehydrate when it's hot. What would you do if you won the million dollars? I will use the money to help the 58 orphans at the Ne Future for Children home and school in Phnom Pen, Cambodia. Any strategic changes you will make heading into this Race: Never stop racing; read the clues more carefully; quit worrying and enjoy THE AMAZING RACE. Mike Age: 40 Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif. Connection to your Teammate: Son Current Occupation: Writer Previous Season/Result: Season 14/6th place Most memorable moment from your first Race: Watching my dad paraglide over the Alps. Favorite place you visited on your first season: India because it was so beautiful, colorful and strange. Why do you want to run the Race again? Because I want to have the adventure and the experience with my father. How have you changed since the last time you competed? I turned 40. What are you passionate about? Animals. People would be surprised to learn: I don't eat dairy or meat. One location that you hope to go on this adventure: African safari because I've never been and I think it would be cool to see the exotic animals in their natural habitat. Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: My dad is 70 and I think physical challenges will be tricky. What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race again (other than winning one million dollars): Getting another chance to grow closer to my pops. Pet peeve about your teammate: His frequent use of puns. What would you do if you won the million dollars? I'd give my parents the retirement years they deserve. Any strategic changes you will make heading into this Race: We need to leave less up to luck and stay with the pack.

The Amazing Race 14

Race History

Mel & Mike's Race History
Episode	Leg	Destination(s)	Detour Choice (underlined)	Roadblock Performer	Placement	Notes
1	1	United States → Switzerland	No Detour	Mike	4 of 11
2	2	Switzerland → Germany → Austria	Balancing Dolly / Austrian Folly	Mel	2 of 10
3	3	Austria → Romania	Gypsy Moves / Vampire Remains	Mike	1 of 9
4	4	Romania → Russia	Stack / Construct	Mel	6 of 8
5	5	Russia	Russian Bride / Russian Snowplow	Mike	4 of 7
6	6	Russia → India	Movers / Shakers	Mel	2 of 7
7	7	India → Thailand	100 Barrels / 2 Miles	No Roadblock	6 of 6
				Average	3.57
Legend:      The team finished in first place      The team finished in last place and was eliminated from the race      The team finished in last place in a non-elimination leg      The team that won The Amazing Race      The team that crossed the Finish Line second      The team that crossed the Finish Line third ⊂ The team used the U-Turn ⊃ Recipient of the U-Turn

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business

Race History

Mel & Mike's Race History
Episode	Leg	Destination(s)	Detour Choice (underlined)	Roadblock Performer	Placement	Notes
1	1	United States → Australia	No Detour	Mel	9 of 11
2	2	Australia	Spirit World / Natural World	No Roadblock	6 of 11
3	3	Australia → Japan	Prayer of Purity / Frog of Luck	Mike	10 of 10	[1]
				Average	8.33
Legend:      The team finished in first place      The team finished in last place and was eliminated from the race      The team finished in last place in a non-elimination leg      The team that won The Amazing Race      The team that crossed the Finish Line second      The team that crossed the Finish Line third ϵ The team used the Express Pass somewhere during the leg ⊂ The team used the U-Turn ⊃ Recipient of the U-Turn ⋐ The team that used the second slot of the "Double U-Turn" ⋑ Recipient of a second U-Turn due to the "Double U-Turn" twist ∪ This team was penalized with an automatic "U-Turn"
Notes: 1: Mel & Mike attempted, but were unable to complete the Frog of Luck Detour due to suffering from hypothermia. Already in last place, they were instructed to go directly to the Pit Stop to be eliminated.

Post-Race

• In 2018, Mike competed on the thirty-seventh season of Survivor, David vs. Goliath. He made it to Day 39, but lost the title of Sole Survivor to Nick Wilson in a 7-3-0 jury vote, finishing as the runner-up.
• In 2021, Mike created, wrote, and directed the comedy drama The White Lotus on HBO.
  • Mike won 3 Emmy Awards for the show in 2022.

Trivia

• Mike had originally applied for The Amazing Race 13 with film director Jon Kasdan, but the latter dropped out before filming. The show's casting director had wanted Mike to re-apply with his father.
• Mel & Mike were featured in a CBS.com gallery celebrating Father's Day in 2015.

Franchise Records

• Mike is the first bisexual contestant to compete on The Amazing Race.
• Mike is the oldest child in a parent/child team, being 40 during The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business (tied with Irina Vasylenko and Dane Simpson).
• Oldest all-male team to compete, with an average age of 55 during Unfinished Business.
  • They would remain the oldest all-male team racers until Mark & Larry in The Amazing Race 37.

US Records

• Mel & Mike were the first father-son team since Steve & Josh in The Amazing Race 4.
• Mel is the the oldest man to compete on The Amazing Race, competing at the age of 70 during Unfinished Business.
• Oldest family team and oldest parent/child team to compete, with an average age of 55 during Unfinished Business.
• Mel & Mike are the first team to be eliminated in Japan.

External links

• Mel's Wikipedia page: Mel White

• Mike's Wikipedia page: Mike White (filmmaker)

• Mike's Survivor Wikia Page

Interviews

Season 14

• Joyce Eng at TVGuide (03/30/2009): "Amazing Race's Mel and Mike: Led Astray by Cabbie, Locals and Sinister Deaf Kid"
• John Bracchitta at Reality TV World (03/30/2009): "Mel and Mike White talk about 'The Amazing Race'"
• Oscar Dahl at BuddyTV (03/30/2009): "Exclusive Interview: Mel and Mike, from 'The Amazing Race 14'"

Unfinished Business

• Joyce Eng at TVGuide (03/07/2011): "Amazing Race's Mel: I Wouldn't Have Quit Had Mike Not Been There"
• Staff at Reality TV World (03/07/2011): "Exclusive: Mel White talks 'The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business'"
• Carrie Bell at People (03/08/2011): "Mel White Says The Amazing Race Is Harder the Second Time"
• Carla Patton at BuddyTV (03/08/2011): "Mel from 'The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business' on Staying Active and Racing Again at 70"