The Amazing Race is holding a casting call in Austin this Friday afternoon. For those unfamiliar with the Emmy-winning series, teams of two travel around the world with the teams going up against each other in challenges, all in an attempt to be the first to get to Phil's mat at the pit stop. The show in its 12 season run has made stops in six continents (no Antarctica pit stops yet). The winning team gets a million dollars in the end, but usually the first team to reach the mat at each pit stop wins a little something....

We -ists are an eclectic bunch, but there's a couple of things we all love: famous people, social causes, and wacky local facts. Join us as we starf**k, get virtuous, and learn across the -ist network! Austinist starts us off right by filling the famous person quota by interviewing Lewis Black, covers the social cause with a non-profit car sharing company, and gives us more wacky local facts than we can handle with Austin by......

As we were watching the Emmy nominations live on CNN this morning, we held just the slightest sliver of hope that with the new nomination system, our favorite would make the cut. Her show's been on for over five seasons, and although Lauren Graham continues to be one of the greatest comic actresses currently on TV, an Emmy nomination has passed her by yet again. What kind of world are we living in where......

There are two new (and very different) shows premiering tonight at 8pm. The one we will probably try to catch is The Unit (KEYE/CBS). Dennis Haysbert ("24") and Scott Foley (or as we think of him, Jennifer Garner's ex) star in this secret agent/military drama. We are intrigued enough to check it out because a) David Mamet is one of the producers, and b) Regina Taylor plays Mr. Haysbert's wife. We have fond memories......

[The following is an editorial column by contributor Alison Coffey and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Austinist staff. --The Editors] This was a big week in reality television. The latest season of Survivor wrapped up. Somebody won a million bucks, somebody won less than that, and all contestants were happy to be able to poop normal again and drink Starbucks and (we can only hope) use dental floss. I haven't watched......

This is a post from our new contributor, Elizabeth...(We swear, we're getting her an account soon) Tonight after our regular viewing of Gilmore Girls (WB, 7pm), we will be torn (and wish we had TiVo). Both Commander in Chief and The Amazing Race have their premieres at 8pm. Gack! We have heard good things about Commander in Chief (ABC, KVUE24). While we may not be big fans of Geena Davis, we do remember Kyle......