Hosea Rosenberg

Melissa Harrison

What is it with reality TV, food and Colorado?

Oskar Blues and Chautauqua already made it onto Food Network shows, and Boulder's about to hit it big on Bravo's "Top Chef."

For reality TV virgins, "Top Chef" is a reality show that pits the best cooks in the country against each other.

The chefs participate in off-the-hook culinary contests. To keep things exciting, the "Top Chefs" have to live together. That element usually causes extreme personal tensions and keeps viewers begging for more.

Boulder comes to the mat with not one, but two locals on "Top Chef's" next season: executive chef Hosea Rosenberg, of Jax Fish House, and sous chef Melissa Harrison, of Centro Latin Kitchen.

Is this a coincidence? Both chefs work down the block from each other on Pearl Street -- and they both work for Dave Query's local Big Red F Restaurant Group.

That should stir things up.

"Top Chef's" new season starts Nov. 12.

'Amazing Race'

"The Amazing Race" scored this year's Emmy for best reality TV show -- it remains the only program to ever have won that award -- and the new season's living up to all the hype.

Veteran viewers of the adrenaline-boosting show can rest assured that this season's contestants are as feisty, bumbling and entertaining as last year's colorful cast.

That always makes for great Sunday night television.

The lucky 13th season of "The Amazing Race" offers up the ever-bickering, "separated" couple Ken and Tina -- he's also an ex-NFL star.

Adding to the fun are nerd kings Mark and Bill. The duo already is over-analyzing the race, and the ditzy blonde duo Marisa and Brooke should add some comic relief to the show.

"The Amazing Race" has even added an "Animal House" edge to this season with college pals Andrew and Dan.

On the first show of the season, the frat boys had to hike up a lengthy outdoor staircase -- on their knees -- twice. It seems they forgot to count the number of stairs. The "brainiacs" thought it would make an easier detour than rappelling down a building.

Wrong answer.

Gwyneth Paltrow, reality star?

Everybody wants to be reality star!

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow can now be seen on PBS' "Spain . . . On the Road Again." The program's airing on Denver's Channel 12 and it features the actress checking out the cuisine of Spain.

Tonight you can see Paltrow go from Oscar-winner to shellfish digger.

Did I mention the show's only being aired at 1:30 a.m.?