My new favorite reality show

Did anyone check out the newest reality show, "The Contender" tonight?

If you've never heard of it, here's the rub: The format is the same as most reality shows, in that contestants are divided into two teams (East Coast vs. West Coast, how's that for built-in drama) that compete in team vs. team challenges. The winning team gets to choose a team member to fight in that episode's boxing match. The fighter from the winning team also gets to choose who he wants to fight from the losing team. Whoever wins the boxing match stays in the game; the loser goes home.

Tonight's fight was between Alfonso Gomez vs. Peter Manfredo. Gomez was the total underdog, and he chose to fight Manfredo, the most experienced boxer on the other team. Manfredo's record was 21-0. Undefeated. Everyone was surprised by Gomez' choice, but his confidence that he was going to emerge the winner was infectious, so sincere - you couldn't help but root for the guy.

Gomez beat him in five rounds. I swear to Jah, it was the most exciting, blood-pumping, fist-throwing, super-hyped reality show I'd ever seen. I had my hands to my face the entire time. I even got on all fours on my bed during the last round to watch the TV because I didn't want to miss one second.

I'm not even a boxing fan. I don't like watching people fight. I mean, the last boxing match I saw was that one where Tyson bit off Holyfield's ear. And I even missed that (I looked away to get a drink of water or something). I think the object of the "game" is to land as many punches as you can on your opponent's body, but it all happens so fast that it's kind of hard to count.

But the Gomez/Manfredo fight was easy enough to follow. The drama was fucking great - the underdog vs. the champ.

Okay. I need to calm down. That was such a great show. I hope I remember to tune in next week, because it's seriously that exciting.

Sylvester Stallone (he's one of the show's executive producers) mentioned on the Howard Stern show this morning that something bad happens to one of the contestants. I don't know if I want to type it here because I don't want to blab, but I'll tell you if you want. But it's DRAMA.

Seriously, check out this show next Monday night. I've seen "Survivor," and I'm a fan of "The Apprentice," but "The Contender" is just raw, emotional, frightening, and way exciting.