Enter The 'Race'

Our Patron Reality Show here at Franklin Avenue, The Amazing Race, is back next week.

We got a sneak copy of the premiere episode and screened it last night... and the verdict is good. After a disappointing cast in season 4, the teams are pretty strong this year. You'll be surprised by who does well and who stumbles on the first leg of the race.

This time out, there is no team consisting of two young, athletic men -- who have won more often than not -- opening the competish for some more surprises. The first episode is 90 minutes long, and you'll be exhausted by the end. The drama is there: Teams fight for plane seats, only to realize they're fighting for the wrong flight; one team gets off to a bad start when a member scrapes his knee on the Santa Monica Pier; and a couple of boneheaded mistakes may very well force one team to be eliminated.

Meanwhile, we're just two months away from version two of Mike's Birthday Race. More details to come!