The Race is Back

Set your TiVos... Franklin Avenue's Patron Reality Show, The Amazing Race, is back tonight with its sixth edition.

Originally scheduled for a September launch -- on Saturday nights -- the show was pushed back once CBS realized what an asset it had become. The two-time Emmy winner returns with a two-hour premiere at 9 p.m.

To whet your appetite, here are a few tidbits we got out of "The Amazing Race 5" winners Chip and Kim, from their appearance at our Mike & Maria's Halloween Housewarming Race:

:: So why, ultimately, did Chip and Kim decide to use the "Yield" on rivals Colin and Christie, rather than let another team incur the wrath of Colin? According to Chip, as much as they believed Brandon and Nicole wanted to "yield" Colin and Christie, in this game you can never be too sure. Rather than risk a surprise yield by Brandon and Nicole, Chip and Kim decided they better do it themselves.

:: The winners haven't spent much of their $1 million winnings (well, $600,000 after taxes) yet: Chip bought a decked-out Apple G5 Mac, while Kim likes to point out she has spent just $12 on candy.

:: So how did they keep their victory a secret? Chip and Kim didn't even tell their kids. They didn't outright lie and say they lost; they just told family and friends that they did their best -- but ultimately didn't do as well as they'd hoped. Chip kids, "We weren't lying -- we could have won more trips along the way!" (First teams to arrive at the show's pit stops frequently win a vacation or cruise to enjoy after the race.) It wasn't until Chip and Kim's kids were watching the show at CBS' "Amazing Race" party in New York that they discovered the truth.

:: Chip and Kim's win helped turn around what had been one of the worst years of their lives. The couple had lost a huge chunk of their savings at the hands of their business partner, and their house had gone into foreclosure when they managed to get cast on the "Race." (See their story at chipandkim.tv).

:: As you might expect, winning the "Race" has suddenly opened new doors for the couple. The duo have booked speaking engagements around the country, focusing on the topic of marriage.

Now, go watch tonight's "Race" premiere! (Production on season 7 starts shortly, by the way.)